TxDOT presents a $30 million underpass (overkill) project designed to shift the westbound congestion one intersection, at Wurzbach/Northwest Military, to the next, Wurzbach/Lockhill Selma. It means years of construction, including blowing off the top of a hill with multiple dynamite explosions---next to a hospital, fuel underground storage tanks, a community center, and hundreds of homes. The blasting can damage the foundations and structural integrity of surrounding homes, buildings and systems. (Also years of jackhammering has health and psychological effects at this proximity.)

Several thousands of homes in the United States have reported damages from blasting performed within guidelines (as far as 3,000' away, although most damage is reported <1,500'), and homeowners demanding compensation are dismissed under the premise that actual damage could not theoretically result from blasts within parameters. In other words, "our math shows damage is impossible... therefore, your foundation cracked for another reason."

Is it also possible for blasting mistakes to happen? That depends on your level of confidence in perfect workplace quality.

Further, Texas and San Antonio laws are set up so that owners cannot collect on the damages from blasting, whether or not the blast was performed within parameters, and homeowners insurance will not cover blasting damages because they cannot collect either. TxDOT or the City of San Antonio need not budget for compensating home and business owners for blasting damages. Perhaps it had become too expensive.

In short, the community is being asked to trust someone to dynamite next door, knowing that if their home/pool/building is damaged, it is at our own expense. Contractors can blast away with impunity!

Please sign this appeal to our local and state government to stop this irrational project (which should be stopped on wasteful spending alone), and not put at risk our homes and buildings because owners---not government/contractors---pay the cost. It would keep us from being driven from our homes by jackhammer noise/vibrations too. And if they could divert our taxpayer funds to effective projects that will actually solve congestion and safety problems, that would be appreciated.

If you would add your zipcode in reply, that would help lend assurance to our government leaders that you speak as a resident of San Antonio.