Social media roasts City of San Antonio for clip on how to get to NIOSA amid construction

San Antonio Public Works became a punch line on social media after the city department shared a video explaining how those attending NIOSA, one of Fiesta's busiest events, should navigate ongoing construction on South Alamo Street.

The video, shot from a first-person POV and tweeted out Wednesday, tells viewers via instructions flashed onscreen to "Start at E. Market and head South towards (sic) E. Nueva St." Pedestrians should then "cross at the SOUTH side of E. Nueva" and "Safely cross E. Nueva to La Villita," it continues.

Public Works' instructional video also showed off the department's new "Walk This Way" guidance markers, which pedestrians can scan if they become confused or lost amid traffic cones and construction tape.

During NIOSA, SAPD plans to close the car lane each night to allow for increased pedestrian traffic.

— San Antonio Public Works 👷‍♀️👷 (@SAPublicWorks) April 18, 2024

Social media users, including some who have been past critics of the city's handling of the South Alamo project, were quick to poke fun at the video.

"Omg it looks like shit," user @HELENS1TA responded on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Omg it looks like shit https://t.co/CdPcaiw3UP

— cheap chick in the city (@HELENS1TA) April 18, 2024

"Y'all couldn't have painted the barriers fiesta colors? Created a cute 'Fiesta Trail' sign or something? Better yet… finish on time ?" chimed in user @beatbyanalisa. "MISSED OPPORTUNITY."

Y’all couldn’t have painted the barriers fiesta colors? Created a cute “Fiesta Trail” sign or something? Better yet… finish on time? MISSED OPPORTUNITY https://t.co/mVV8Q6BU8h

— analisa🎀✨💋🏹 (@beatbyanalisa) April 17, 2024

"I know the last thing COSAGOV wants to do is put a black eye on Fiesta. But Fiesta is here, and this obstacle course for citizens is as ugly as it gets," @YouNOTthefather tweeted.

I know the last thing @COSAGOV wants to do is put a black eye on Fiesta. But Fiesta is here, and this obstacle course for citizens as ugly as it gets.
Oh wait… then there’s the Market Sauare area… 👀 https://t.co/kXrnBkb7yr

— Maury Vasquez (@YouNOTthefather) April 17, 2024

Meanwhile, former San Antonio Report journalist Sandra Santos commented on Public Works' spelling error in the video, noting that "there is no 'S' in toward."

Seems like pedestrian traffic will overwhelm those barriers easily. Also, there is no S in toward. https://t.co/tG0eAa03FD

— Sandra Santos 🌊 (@sandrasantos) April 17, 2024

Public Works may have posted its explainer in response to a clip X user @isaiahfromtexas shared earlier this week. In that video, the social media user navigates the same route, except at night.

"This is what it's like walking from Alamp Plaza to Hemisfair, @isaiahfromtexas wrote in the caption to his video. "The only light is from the Hilton hotel. And Fiesta is in less than two week. @COSAGOV someone tag the mayor cos I'm blocked."

This is what it’s like walking from Alamo plaza to hemisfair. No sidewalks. The only light is from the Hilton hotel. And fiesta is in less than two weeks. It’s been like this for a min. And it’s hella dangerous. @COSAGOV someone tag the mayor cos I’m blocked. pic.twitter.com/0MbjWVcJHY

— isaiah fromtexas (@isaiahfromtexas) April 6, 2024

Public Works began work on the South Alamo Street project in March when construction crews shut down the street's northbound lanes between Market Street and Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard, KSAT reports.

Since then, owners of center-city small businesses along the route, including local bar owner Aaron Peña have lobbed criticism at the city's handling of the project. Peña, who's part owner of Southtown bar Gimme Gimme, was unable to access his business all day on April 11 when Public Works closed down traffic in both directions on South Presa and Camargo streets.

Just another day in the 7th largest city in America! Me, my distributors, my landscaper, or my staff have not been able to access my business all day today! A nice preview of what’s in store for Fiesta down here in Southtown/ Market Sq/ Hemisfair. @COSAGOV pic.twitter.com/nshLLRDd4j

— ZARZAMORA SLIM (@CleanGuayabera) April 11, 2024

Although the lanes were reopened a day later, Peña, who shut down his bar, the Squeeze Box, due to construction on the St. Mary's Strip last year, told the Current that he's frustrated by the city's lack of communication and transparency on construction projects.

"I feel like they're following me," Peña said.

Public Works expects to complete the South Alamo project by early 2025, KSAT reports.

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