City Council moves forward with proposed Medical Drive tunnel
Web Posted: 08/10/2007 01:40 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/met....1c6dbffc.html
Those who drive through the intersection of Medical Drive and Fredericksburg Road know how slow it is — but not for long.
On Thursday, the San Antonio City Council approved funding that will lead to a tunnel being dug under Fredericksburg Road and into the Medical Center.
"It will help emergency vehicles move quickly in this area," said Diane Cibrian, councilwoman for District 8. "We know the medical center is expanding rapidly."
Voters have already approved funding the project in two previous bond elections. It's estimated to cost $26 million to widen Medical Drive to four lanes and take it under Fredericksburg Road.
The proposed tunnel will streamline all traffic, not just traffic for emergency vehicles.
"We are such an incredible economic generator for our city. With 27,000 just medical employees, forgetting all those who earn their living through the service businesses in the Medical Center," said Susan Wright, with the Medical Center Alliance.
On Thursday, the city authorized funding to begin phase two of the project, studying the environmental impact and acquiring the right of way to add two lanes to Medical Drive before workers can start tunneling.
Start and end dates for the project are dependent on how long it takes to acquire the right of ways, so it could be a few years before traffic can zip into the Medical Center.