A section of scaffolding at a hotel construction site on the corner of Soledad and East Commerce streets collapsed Friday afternoon. Emergency crews from San Antonio Fire Department have stabilized the structure and evacuated the site.
Assistant Fire Chief Wesley West said the scaffolding contractor, MDM Scaffolding, is traveling from Austin with a team of engineers and safety specialists to stabilize and dismantle the structure from the top down. That process he said is expected to take between 12 and 15 hours.
Officials discuss how to help pedestrians avoid collapsed scaffolding outside of a construction site on East Commerce and Soledad streets on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. This weekend tens of thousands will be downtown for Día de los Muertos celebrations. Credit: Diego Medel / San Antonio Report
That intersection on Soledad and East Commerce and the Main Plaza will remain closed until further notice. San Antonio Police Department officers will remain on site and residents are urged to use alternate routes until safety crews complete their work.
“We got line of sight on all streets, trying to keep an eye on everybody. My biggest concern right now is somebody not knowing and just wanders into the area,” West said. “I know it’s a hassle and it’s a pain. It’s Friday night. But at the end of the day, we want to avoid anybody caught up in a potential collapse here, so, please bear with us.”
The city’s Development Services Department confirmed the scaffolding had been properly permitted and designed to meet federal OSHA standards. Officials said the lower supports of the structure appeared to have buckled but the upper sections remain partially standing.
The collapse comes as downtown prepares to host tens of thousands of visitors for Día de los Muertos celebrations and the Muertos Fest parade this weekend, which are expected to draw more than 100,000 people to the area.