Shavano Park’s consultants from the local firm KFW Engineers and Surveying told City Council on Oct. 24 that they are 60% finished with designs for the initial phase of improvements that will affect 14 older city roads and cul-de-sacs as part of a $10 million bond issue passed by voters last May.

KFW Vice President Chris Otto said his colleagues should have the design plans for Phase 1 of the bond-funded street improvement project fully completed by the end of this year. Otto said Phase 1 is estimated to cost $10.2 million.

Otto said the Phase 1 cost estimate decreased from $10.7 million due to the removal of two cul-de-sacs on Mossy Cup Lane and West Mossy Cup, and the proposal to use asphalt driveways where asphalt or gravel driveways currently exist.

According to Otto, the city and KFW have begun coordinating with AT&T, CPS Energy, Spectrum, Zayo and the San Antonio Water System on utility relocation as part of the road project, which will focus on neighborhood streets west and east of Northwest Military Highway.

The city’s road project is separate from the Texas Department of Transportation’s current expansion and upgrade of Northwest Military.

Otto said CPS Energy plans to use the city’s street project as an opportunity to replace all old iron ductile service lines on the roads targeted for fixes.

Otto said there will be no significant changes to drainage during the upcoming bond-funded street project.

“It’s our intent to retain the existing drainage patterns,” he said.

Otto also said engineers will work with the contractor and residents to prevent or quickly address any conflicts involving residents’ mail boxes that lie near the paths of planned road work.

According to local officials, KFW will host a town hall in December to present engineering plans to the public before the city goes out to bid on a construction contractor.

Another town hall will be held with the awarded contractor in late spring 2023 to notify residents of upcoming construction, local officials said.

Local officials said Otto and KFW’s Bobby Torres will provide management for the road work. Otto and City Manager Bill Hill said Mayor Bob Werner and some council members have volunteered to offer some supervision, too.

Additionally, the city will have a street advisory board, including residents Al Walea and Song Tan, to help provide guidance on projects such as those bond-funded road improvements.

Otto also said engineers have completed 30% of designs for planned improvements along DeZavala Road, where the city’s $10 million bond will be used to leverage requests for federal funding.

Werner asked the engineers and city staff to work with CPS Energy and notify affected residents before CPSE utility work takes place.

“We want citizens to know about that sooner than later,” Werner said.