AC Hotel Scaffolding Partially Collapses Downtown San Antonio

San Antonio officials closed portions of East Commerce Street and nearby roads Friday after scaffolding about 10 stories high on the AC Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk construction project buckled and partially collapsed, prompting evacuations. The San Antonio Fire Department said 20–25 construction workers were safely evacuated, sidewalks and nearby buildings — including the Bill Miller Bar‑B‑Q headquarters — were cleared, and police blocked streets while crews secured the scene with no reported injuries. Engineers and safety specialists from Austin were brought in and crews planned to stabilize the structure and dismantle the scaffolding from the top down over an expected 12–15 hours, possibly extending into early Saturday morning. Officials urged the public to avoid the area, check city traffic updates or Google Maps for alternate routes, and warned the closure could disrupt a busy weekend of events including the Day of the Dead river parade, Muertos Fest and a Paul McCartney concert. The San Antonio Fire Department scheduled a press briefing at Commerce and Soledad, and the incident remains under investigation with officials emphasizing public safety as the top priority.