Owner: City of Austin, Austin Water Utility
Contact: Steven Schrader, P.E.
Title: Division Manager of Collection System Services, AWU
Address: 2600 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78702
Phone number: (512) 703-6635
Completion Date: 2009
Construction Cost: $6.9 million

Project Description:
This project is generally located along the west side of the southbound frontage road of IH35 between Riverside Drive and Reagan Terrace, in the South River City Citizens Neighborhood Group planning area. The project includes installation of approximately 1,850 linear feet of 30-inch wastewater line via tunneling. The project also included installation and decommissioning of a temporary lift station that was required to be installed on the banks of Harpers Branch Creek on an emergency basis when a wastewater line under South IH35 collapsed. The project included extensive coordination with TxDOT when the line collapsed and the new lift station and temporary force main needed to be placed within TxDOT right of way. In addition, three construction access driveways had to be permitted through TxDOT. The project also repaired and/or replaced 8-inch, 15-inch and 24-inch wastewater lines connecting the new tunnel to the existing wastewater collection system. Manholes on the project ranged from 4-foot diameter to 10-feet diameter, and included various technologies such as vortex structures, secondary ventilation ports, and internal and external drops. The primary shaft for tunnel boring was located inside the Norwood Dog Park, on the banks of Lady Bird Lake, with the park required to remain open throughout construction. The project included tunneling under an existing multi-story parking garage structure that remained in service throughout construction, requiring monitoring of data points to assure settlement did not occur. The project included a relatively small number of easements, but required significant negotiations to complete acquisition, including the hiring of an international legal team to locate a property owner who was out of the country. Extensive stabilization of Harper’s Branch Creek was required along a portion of the project. This project has currently reached Substantial Completion, ahead of schedule.

Work performed by individual:
CAS served as Project Manager. Managed design and construction phases; Managed budget and schedule; Monitored flow of contract paperwork including pay applications, requests for information (RFIs), technical product submittals, inspection reports; Coordinates communications between the contractor, stakeholders, and the City’s inspectors.