San Antonio News Roundup: Major Crash, Weekend Road Closures and Big Events Shape the Alamo City
By Refocused Newsroom | July 24, 2026
San Antonio enters the weekend with a mix of serious public-safety developments, major construction disruptions and high-profile entertainment drawing thousands toward downtown. While emergency crews investigate a devastating overnight crash in northern Bexar County, drivers across the city are also preparing for another round of closures connected to the massive Loop 1604 expansion project.
Meanwhile, slightly cooler temperatures are arriving after San Antonio recorded its first 100-degree day of the year, and the city’s cultural calendar is humming with the San Antonio Film Festival and AC/DC’s anticipated Alamodome concert.
Five Hospitalized After Head-On Crash in North Bexar County
Five people were taken to hospitals following a head-on collision late Thursday night in the 25000 block of Blanco Road, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said two of the injured patients were hospitalized in critical condition. Three others were transported with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The collision reportedly involved a pickup truck and another vehicle. Investigators were working Friday morning to determine what caused the vehicles to collide. The crash temporarily disrupted traffic in the area while emergency crews treated the injured and deputies examined the scene.
The incident is a sobering reminder for drivers traveling on darker suburban and rural roads, particularly during late-night hours when visibility, speed and fatigue can become dangerous ingredients.
Major I-10 and Loop 1604 Closures Planned This Weekend
Drivers traveling through San Antonio’s North Side should prepare for significant delays around the I-10 and Loop 1604 interchange near The Rim and La Cantera.
According to reports outlining TxDOT’s weekend construction schedule, all main lanes of I-10 and the eastbound lanes of Loop 1604 at the interchange are expected to close overnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The closures are scheduled from approximately 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Both directions of the Loop 1604 frontage roads will also be affected, although the I-10 frontage roads are expected to remain open for detours.
Additional work is planned near U.S. 281, Gold Canyon Road and Redland Road. Two-way traffic will temporarily be placed on one side of Loop 1604 while crews complete bridge-joint repairs. Drivers heading toward shopping, dining and entertainment destinations in the area should allow extra time and closely follow detour signs.
The work is part of the approximately $1.4 billion Loop 1604 North Expansion Project. The long-term project is widening sections of the highway from four lanes to as many as 10 lanes while rebuilding heavily traveled interchanges.
Translation for San Antonio drivers: the orange barrels are not moving out anytime soon. They have practically signed a lease.
Police Officers Could Receive 16.5% Pay Increase
The City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Police Officers Association have reached a tentative three-year labor agreement valued at approximately $102.2 million.
The proposed contract includes cumulative base-pay increases totaling 16.5% for police officers. City officials said the agreement is designed to keep San Antonio competitive with other major Texas cities while improving recruitment, retention and patrol coverage.
The proposal would also adjust patrol scheduling to place more officers on duty during periods when calls for service are highest.
The agreement is not final. Police union members must first ratify it before the contract proceeds to the San Antonio City Council for approval.
The deal will become an important piece of the city’s upcoming budget discussions. Leaders must balance police compensation and public-safety demands against other pressures involving infrastructure, housing, emergency services and basic city operations.
Slight Weather Relief Arrives, but Summer Heat Remains
San Antonio reached 100 degrees Wednesday, marking the city’s first triple-digit temperature of 2026. Conditions began easing Friday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Bertha moved west and weakened the high-pressure system responsible for the intense heat.
Friday’s high was expected to remain near 94 or 95 degrees. High humidity, however, could push the heat index close to 100 degrees, meaning the air may still feel far hotter than the thermometer suggests.
Isolated showers were possible as moisture associated with Bertha moved across South Texas, although the greatest flooding concerns were concentrated closer to the Texas Gulf Coast. San Antonio’s rainfall totals were expected to remain limited in most areas.
Residents working or exercising outdoors should continue drinking water, taking air-conditioned breaks and limiting strenuous activity during the hottest part of the afternoon. Children and pets should never be left inside parked vehicles, even briefly.
Temperatures are expected to climb back into the upper 90s over the weekend and could approach triple digits again as July turns toward August.
AC/DC Brings the Thunder to the Alamodome
Downtown San Antonio is preparing for a massive night of rock as AC/DC brings its Power Up Tour to the Alamodome Friday evening.
The concert is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m.
The band’s visit has also transformed the River Walk into a fan destination. Hard Rock Cafe is hosting an official AC/DC pop-up experience featuring exclusive merchandise, interactive displays, photo opportunities and a replica of the band’s famous “Hells Bell.”
Concert traffic will combine with the region’s road construction and other downtown activities, so attendees should arrive early, research parking options and expect congestion surrounding the Alamodome.
For longtime San Antonio rock fans, the night represents more than another touring stop. AC/DC has maintained a deep connection with Texas audiences for decades, and Friday’s performance is positioned as one of the city’s biggest concerts of the summer.
San Antonio Film Festival Showcases Independent Storytelling
The 32nd annual San Antonio Film Festival continues through Sunday, July 26, bringing independent filmmakers, premieres, documentaries and special events to venues around the city.
The six-day festival includes locally produced projects alongside national and international films. Organizers have also scheduled filmmaker discussions, red-carpet events and opportunities for emerging creators to connect with industry professionals.
The festival provides an important platform for San Antonio’s growing film and creative community. It also gives audiences an opportunity to discover stories that may not receive wide theatrical distribution.
Between the film festival, the AC/DC concert and free local entertainment such as the city’s Sounds of Downtown concert series, San Antonio’s weekend calendar is packed with options.
The Weekend Outlook
San Antonio’s weekend will carry two very different rhythms.
One is defined by emergency responses, construction detours, courtroom disputes and ongoing questions about how the region manages rapid growth. The other arrives through music, film and public gatherings that continue to make the city a major South Texas cultural destination.
Residents should remain alert on the roads, monitor changing weather conditions and plan carefully before heading toward downtown or the North Side. San Antonio will be moving this weekend, but in several places, it may not be moving very quickly.
Sources and Full Links
- KSAT: Five hospitalized after head-on crash in north Bexar County
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/07/24/5-hospitalized-after-head-on-crash-in-north-bexar-county-bcso-says/ - San Antonio Express-News: I-10 and Loop 1604 weekend closures
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/txdot-loop-1604-closures-22357659.php - MySA: Major Loop 1604 closures near U.S. 281
https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/traffic/article/loop-1604-closure-22357380.php - San Antonio Express-News: City and police union reach tentative contract
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/san-antonio-police-union-reach-102-2-million-22349549.php - San Antonio Express-News: Cooler weather expected as Bertha moves away
https://www.expressnews.com/san-antonio-weather/forecast/article/friday-san-anotnio-texas-weather-cooler-22357550.php - MySA: Tropical Storm Bertha brings rain risk to Texas
https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/article/tropical-storm-bertha-texas-22357207.php - San Antonio Express-News: Heat safety and cooling information
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/heat-safety-tips-cooling-centers-22357208.php - City of San Antonio: Alamodome AC/DC event information
https://www.sanantonio.gov/dome/seating.htm - News 4 San Antonio: AC/DC River Walk fan experience
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/acdc-turns-san-antonio-into-fan-destination-with-river-walk-pop-up-ahead-of-concert - News 4 San Antonio: San Antonio Film Festival
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/32nd-annual-san-antonio-film-festival-kicks-off-six-day-celebration - City of San Antonio: Sounds of Downtown concert series
https://www.sa.gov/Directory/News-Releases