San Antonio’s Far Westside has a lot to offer. Over the last few years, residents have noticed that new eateries, shopping plazas, and neighborhoods are bringing more people to their side of town. It sparks a big opportunity for small businesses, but commuters in the area pay part of the price.
Those being impacted took to social media to voice their grievances this month. In a private Facebook group, folks discuss the “worst traffic spot” on the infamous Potranco Road, a 16-mile-long route that starts as a two-lane country road at FM 471 near Rio Media.
It may look promising to first-time travelers, who deem it to be a rural street with few passengers. In reality, it transforms into a city street right after Highway 211 until it ends at Ingram Road. It even ranks among the 100 most congested roads in the state, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
Group member Diane Marie Garcia kicked off the conversation strongly, claiming “all” parts of the road take the crown as being the “worst.” They were joined by user Sarah Dyer, who said the “whole thing” is “miserable.” Several others agreed with them.
“From top to bottom,” Andrea Bass said.
Construction projects continue to emerge near Potranco Road, which doesn’t help the situation. Four months ago, neighbors spoke out against a new, $3.1 million plaza headed for the region. The development, Steven’s Point, is set to anchor the land across from an H-E-B off Highway 211, a spot also characterized by fast-food giants Chick-fil-a, Whataburger, and Bill Miller Bar-B-Q.
“It already takes 25 minutes plus to get from [Loop]1604 to [State Highway] 211,” San Antonio native Michael Moor said in a Facebook post, reacting to the project. “Can we not fix the traffic issue first before we add even more retail?”
At the time, TxDOT official Laura Lopez told MySA that a schematic and environmental study for a proposed expansion of FM 1957, between SH 211 and CR 381 in Medina County, was in the works. If approved, it would widen the existing two-lane roadway to a six-lane corridor.
Some of these milemarkers also got name-dropped in the Thursday, February 3, debate. At the Talley and Potranco intersection, “the left lane splits off into the left only and the straight lane only, so if you’re coming from 211 to 1604, it’s horrible,” San Antonian Corina Medrano-Bueno wrote.
Another said the culprit is from State Highway (SH) 151 onwards past SH 211. Near this stretch, drivers collectively lose more than 182,000 miles each year due to slowdowns, per TxDOT. Those living outside Loop 1604, especially near the Redbird Ranch subdivision at Potranco Road and Highway 211, have told MySA staff that if you need to be downtown before 8 a.m., you have to get out the door by 6 a.m. at the latest.
On the weekends, some reported sitting in traffic for 30 minutes or more in an attempt to get inside Loop 1604. Congestion during this time typically starts around 9:30 a.m., especially for those heading east. Westbound traffic tends to move a bit more smoothly.
This article originally published at San Antonio drivers sound off on the ‘worst traffic spot’ on Potranco Road.