Seven Manholes Stall $10 Million Sewer Project on South Flores Street

Crews for the San Antonio Water System still need to close seven manholes in the South Flores Street area, according to the utility company. The work is the final phase of a $10 million sewer main replacement project that began several months ago.

SAWS stated that the sewer line work itself is complete. However, crews encountered underground fiber-optic cable structures that could not be moved. This discovery required a temporary pause in construction. The utility said it has identified a solution and will resume work on the manholes next week.

Bad weather last week also contributed to the delays, SAWS said. The utility expects to finish the project in the next several weeks and stated that the project remains on track for completion by the end of the year.

Local businesses have reported disruptions since the work began. Samantha Lozano, an employee at Karolina’s Antiques, said customers frequently call to ask if the store is open and how to reach it. Some callers give up when they cannot find a clear route to the business.

Lozano described the access to the shop as unpredictable. Barricades and road closures change throughout the construction process. “Sometimes they open it up. Sometimes you can’t access the roads easily, it’s just unexpected every day,” she said.

Parking has also become a challenge for the antique shop. Customers typically use an area near the store because street parking is limited. The construction crew has used that space for equipment and loading. Lozano said customers now park further away and walk to the shop.

The disruption coincides with the store’s busiest season. Lozano said the construction has already impacted Halloween and Muertos season sales. The shop is now moving into the Thanksgiving and Christmas period. She estimated the prolonged construction has cost the business at least a couple thousand dollars in the last couple of months.

The construction has also affected the shop’s weekly community market. Reduced foot traffic has made some vendors hesitant to participate. Lozano said only a few vendors attended the market this past weekend due to uncertainty over parking and customer engagement.

Residents in the neighborhood have also reported difficulties. Lamis Pimento said traffic rerouting has made it harder to get in and out of the area. She noted that dropping her kids off at school in the morning now requires longer detours.

Sandra Avila, another resident, described the situation as pretty annoying. She said she does not see construction workers out there every day and called the work inconsistent. SAWS is asking businesses, residents, and drivers to be patient as crews finish the project. More details are available on the SAWS website.