BUMPER-TO-BUMPER traffic and heavy-footed drivers have left residents stuck in their homes and fearing for their safety.
If they aren’t worried about how to leave their homes, they fear for the damage and injuries that could be caused by fellow motorists.
5
5
5
Locals from West Bexar County, in San Antonio, Texas, have revealed the daily struggles and worries of life on their supposedly quiet residential street.
The residents of Hidden Terrace live along the only east-west through road for the whole area.
Not only does this lead to snarled up traffic, but also fast drivers using it as a short cut, paying little attention to the 30 mph speed limit.
“[It’s] a constant line coming to and from,” one resident told CBS news affiliate KENS 5 about the bumper-to-bumper traffic that is a common sight outside his home, blocking his driveway.
“This entire street, hidden terrace, can get completely car backed up,” another added.
Meanwhile, resident Andy Dalbergo who only moved to the area three months ago says he already has buyers regret and is considering moving away because of the issue.
“I was used to traffic but not like this. I made a mistake,” he said.
“I can count between 100 and 200 cars driving through at a time.
“It’s like a major thoroughfare. It’s nonstop.”
As well as nose-to-nose traffic, residents fear for their safety and that of local children who attend the elementary school just one street over.
Residents told the news outlet that when the street isn’t congested “cars fly through” paying no attention to the speed limit.
“Cement trucks, you name it, they’re all coming through here and tell me if you’re going to stop in time for a child,” a worried local told KENS 5.
Meanwhile, another said that every day they worry that if they can get out of their driveway thanks to quiet traffic, they fear getting hit by speeding vehicles.
The cause of the congestion issue is largely down to a failed development plan for the area which involved building another east-west through road.
Art Reinhardt, the Director of Bexar County Public Works told the news outlet that the local authorities are no longer in control of the second cut-through and that it will most likely not be built.
The site earmarked for the through route, Marbach Road, is owned by a developer and Bexar County has no powers about forcing them to finish the construction.
“The gap in Marbach Road is ultimately the responsibility of the developer that is going to develop that,” Reinhardt said.
He noted that his office has received several complaints about Hidden Terrace and that a traffic study is ongoing in the area.
This is set to be concluded later this month and it is hoped that once complete, the County can look at possible solutions to other concerns regarding the residential street.
“There’s set requirements on what factors we may do whether its a stop sign or a traffic signal,” he said.
‘OBVIOUS’ SOLUTION
Responding to the news on Facebook, locals have fumed at the county’s poor planning.
“This is what happens when you don’t expand roads before doing major developments like houses & businesses. It’s obvious!” one wrote.
“Stop freaking building homes!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY keep building hones everywhere before they build roadways how stupid!!!” another added.
“We moved out of that neighborhood in 2022. Thank goodness,” a third said.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Bexar County Public Works for an update on the traffic survey.
Elsewhere, one resident woke up to a shock when she found that her car was missing and that it had been towed overnight but she can’t get it back.
5
5