Environmental concerns linger while trying to expand Loop 1604 to 10 lanes on North Side
Advocacy groups are criticizing the plans
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SAN ANTONIO – Construction is set to begin early next year on a major project to expand Loop 1604 on San Antonio’s North Side, but environmental concerns linger.
The Texas Department of Transportation plans to widen the roadway to 10 lanes, including HOV lanes, from State Highway 16 (Bandera Road) to Interstate 35.
Some environmental and public advocacy groups are still criticizing the plans. And the Public Interest Research Group recently added the project to its annual list of “Highway Boondoogles.”
“Our criteria are, generally speaking, projects that are way too expensive for solving the problem, and especially ones that have extreme environmental impact,” said Bay Scoggin, director of the Texas Public Interest Research Group or TexPIRG. “And 1604 falls in that later category.”