Road conditions and traffic in San Antonio

[WVREDLEG]

My wife and I grew up within 70 miles of Pittsburgh, PA, albeit in different areas. Anyone here who complains of potholes is indeed deprived of the experience of the northeast where the effects of winter road treatments, multiple freezes and thaws leave most cars needing a front end alignment at least annually. Construction? Drive I-79 from N. WV to Pittsburgh. In my 48 years, I have never seen that road without 10 percent of the 70ish miles commute striped with orange barrels, single lanes, and perpetual road work. San Antonio has some long-term road construction, but not in the perpetuity that plagues the northeast.

If you have ever drove from Richmond, VA to DC, or up to Baltimore (a frequent business commute for me a few years ago), you would drive here with a big smile on your face. It has never taken me 5 hours to go 95 miles anywhere in Texas, but in VA, I have sat on I-95 S, already past the mixing bowl, for 4-5 hours creeping 3-5 feet at a time--without wrecks or construction!!

Now imagine being able to drive at the speed limit on the same road, and it is blanketed with state troopers and county deputies hiding in the tall pines picking off people going 7-8 mph over the speed limit. On the opposite border with NC, I would set my cruise to 1 mile below the limit and watch the counties and troopers pick off the fools who hit the NC-VA state line at 75 or 80.

Traffic is not bad here. Choose to leave early or stagger your commutes around rush hours and it is smooth 90 percent of the time.

[davis449]

I want to know if those bitching about how bad the condition of our roads here have ever driven anywhere off the Interstate highways in the DFW metroplex. Go take a drive through north Dallas on those concrete streets, come back here, and tell me just how bad our roads are.

[heimerswt]

Originally Posted by Charles Barkley

Smart phones have ruined that more than anything else.

I definitely do not disagree with this.

[smuboy86]

Originally Posted by davis449

I want to know if those bitching about how bad the condition of our roads here have ever driven anywhere off the Interstate highways in the DFW metroplex. Go take a drive through north Dallas on those concrete streets, come back here, and tell me just how bad our roads are.

My friends from Dallas that visit are amazed how good the roads are here. I dare anyone to drive down Coit in north Dallas and complain how bad the roads are here.

[ggeorgie]

Problem is we live in an area where everyone wants to move to. I.H. 10 out to Boerne wasn't too bad of a drive 10 years ago. 1604 and IH10 wasn't that bad either. IH35 out past Garden Ridge wasn't that bad 10 years ago. Has anyone been out by Rudys BBQ in Leon Springs lately. There is a huge apartment complex going up right behind Rudys. More people, more cars!! That whole area is nuts! Look at 281 past 1604, it wasn't that bad either 10 years ago. 10 years ago, which wasn't that long ago, in 2005, I had a quick fast drive I used to do for a stress reliever; I would go out Broadway to Bulverde road past 1604, left on 46 to 281, shoot down to 410 and back to Broadway and I would do this hauling ass because there was nothing out Bulverde road at that time. Surely can't do that anymore. Point is, too many people are moving into S.A. and surrounding areas. Case in point, San Marcos 2nd year in a row was tagged as fastest growing city in the country. We can't handle the infrastructure fast enough.

[prim8]

Originally Posted by WVREDLEG

My wife and I grew up within 70 miles of Pittsburgh, PA, albeit in different areas. Anyone here who complains of potholes is indeed deprived of the experience of the northeast where the effects of winter road treatments, multiple freezes and thaws leave most cars needing a front end alignment at least annually. Construction? Drive I-79 from N. WV to Pittsburgh. In my 48 years, I have never seen that road without 10 percent of the 70ish miles commute striped with orange barrels, single lanes, and perpetual road work. San Antonio has some long-term road construction, but not in the perpetuity that plagues the northeast.

If you have ever drove from Richmond, VA to DC, or up to Baltimore (a frequent business commute for me a few years ago), you would drive here with a big smile on your face. It has never taken me 5 hours to go 95 miles anywhere in Texas, but in VA, I have sat on I-95 S, already past the mixing bowl, for 4-5 hours creeping 3-5 feet at a time--without wrecks or construction!!

Now imagine being able to drive at the speed limit on the same road, and it is blanketed with state troopers and county deputies hiding in the tall pines picking off people going 7-8 mph over the speed limit. On the opposite border with NC, I would set my cruise to 1 mile below the limit and watch the counties and troopers pick off the fools who hit the NC-VA state line at 75 or 80.

Traffic is not bad here. Choose to leave early or stagger your commutes around rush hours and it is smooth 90 percent of the time.

Agreed, been there and done all of that. People sometimes don't know how good they have it.

[huckster]

The streets of San Antonio are in better than average condition. Unless you've traveled extensively across
the country you've no ideqa what you are talking about. A lot of gum flapping goes on here on this forum with knowledge? No.

[MustermannBB]

Originally Posted by davis449

I want to know if those bitching about how bad the condition of our roads here have ever driven anywhere off the Interstate highways in the DFW metroplex. Go take a drive through north Dallas on those concrete streets, come back here, and tell me just how bad our roads are.

Well since I suppose I was "bitching" about it, I shall answer your question.
No I have not driven in Dallas or Houston for that matter and if the conditions of their roads up/down there respectively are even worse, I pity them. However that doesn't change the issues of the roads in San Antonio IMO. Some of the potholes are outright dangerous and the amount of broken down vehicles in the emergency lanes does not really speak for the quality of these roads and or driving habits in San Antonio either.

But perhaps, also considering the comment about Pittsburgh perhaps it stands to reason that most of the highways in the US are in bad shape compared to Europe (Northern Europe especially)?


One would think however that at the very least the city could do a better job of cleaning up the litter and debris on the side of the highways and people/drivers would not use the highway as a trash bin.

In any case I am not trying to bash San Antonio here, so far I think it is a nice city with lots of charm and certain places and friendly people for the most part.

The roads and traffic however was/is just something that struck me.
BTW I am used to traffic in big cities, so that is not the issue really.