I have noticed that in the afternoon rush hour, as I pass the Rim heading west on I-10, the traffic heading INTO San Antonio is worse than the traffic heading OUT. It seems to be the opposite of what one may expect.

Anyone know why that is?

More of a niche question, but I also notice the same phenomenon at Ralph Fair and I-10. Many cars lined up on Ralph Fair Rd heading INTO the city in the afternoon. What gives?

You should see it closer to downtown before it meets 35.
I see it every day as I'm leaving the pearl area.
But then I get stuck in the five miles of slowdown before 1604.

New 1604 to 10 East and 10 to 410 takes up a few lanes. Always a cluster. Have office off 10 and Callaghan and see it all day. Throw in 10 to 1604.

LCE said:

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New 1604 to 10 East and 10 to 410 takes up a few lanes. Always a cluster. Have office off 10 and Callaghan and see it all day. Throw in 10 to 1604.

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I am teaching my 15yo to drive. Yesterday was his first experience on a freeway. We went through both of these interchanges. Even for a Sunday afternoon the pucker factor was significant for a 15yo.

You are a brave dad! Next do the 410 to highway 90…pretty damn high.

The traffic is mainly caused from La Cantera/The Rim entering highway right where I-10 is exiting to get to 1604. Backs up with that pile up and cars getting over. Throw in the Puro SA drivers in the outside lane trying to bypass this then merge in at the last second. When its really backed up the HOV lane ends near this area and that adds to it. Please also driving slower with the traffic lanes messed up and not straight with construction on I-10 right under 1604.

The Lurker said:

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The traffic is mainly caused from La Cantera/The Rim entering highway right where I-10 is exiting to get to 1604. Backs up with that pile up and cars getting over. Throw in the Puro SA drivers in the outside lane trying to bypass this then merge in at the last second. When its really backed up the HOV lane ends near this area and that adds to it. Please also driving slower with the traffic lanes messed up and not straight with construction on I-10 right under 1604.

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This makes sense, I am just still amazed at how many people seem to be in Leon Springs/Boerne during the day and are coming back to San Antonio. Maybe I'm underestimating the impact of the Wellmed office, the Sunoco office, and Howard Energy / Security Service office all in that area.

Not sure exactly where the vehicles "originate" at that are on Ralph Fair heading to I-10 in the afternoons but I suspect a fair amount of them come from 46 & 281 (in a broad sense) heading to 1604 & I-10.

The Lurker said:

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The traffic is mainly caused from La Cantera/The Rim entering highway right where I-10 is exiting to get to 1604. Backs up with that pile up and cars getting over. Throw in the Puro SA drivers in the outside lane trying to bypass this then merge in at the last second. When its really backed up the HOV lane ends near this area and that adds to it. Please also driving slower with the traffic lanes messed up and not straight with construction on I-10 right under 1604.

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That mesh point just seems really bad planning. Same with the long ass ramp from 281 south onto 410 west where it dumps on right where people are trying to exit for San Pedro. Seems like they could have shortened that ramp to lengthen the mesh point and give drivers more time to hash it out.

Like others, I use the term "drivers" loosely based on typical San Antonio I'm on my phone/looking at my phone I'm oblivious to traffic and speed around me.

Story I was told is the original plan was for 410 to bypass San Pedro but North Star Mall complained.

Another area of bad planning is I-10 and 410. If they shut down that on-ramp right before Callaghan that would save a lot of traffic being backed up on I-10 trying to exit 410 while the other traffic is merging over two lanes to get on I-10.