This project will reduce flooding for houses and roads near Little Walnut Creek between Metric Blvd. and Rutland Dr.  It includes a pipe to carry floodwaters, pond improvements at Quail Creek Park and upgrades to wastewater pipes.

Status

March 25, 2024: Thank you to NACA for hosting us at their monthly meeting on March 21, 2024. Here is a copy of the presentation in case you missed it: Phase 2 Presentation.

We expect to wrap up work on Phase 1 in the next couple of weeks. The contractor will reconstruct all but the top few inches of Mearns Meadow Blvd. between the park and Parkfield Dr. This will leave the road drivable, but the manholes will jut up a little above the road surface and act like speed bumps. Please drive slowly. The final layers of asphalt will be put down at the very end of the project.

As we move into Phase 2 , the closure area on Mearns Meadow will move. Mearns Meadow will be closed to thru traffic between Parkfield and Mountain Quail until the end of the year. Within that area, the intense construction work will move slowly from Parkfield to Mountain Quail. Those living or visiting homes in this area will be able to drive past the barricades at the intersections, but not through the active construction area. At first, access to most houses will be from the Mountain Quail intersection. 

When the work is directly in front of a house, there will not be access to that driveway until the work progresses past the house. The exact timeframe will vary. The lack of access may last for a few days. Residents should park on the street during this time. 

Map of Project Phasing

Map showing project phases.

 

Project Overview

Floodwater will be diverted to a large box culvert that will run under Mearns Meadow Boulevard. A box culvert is a rectangular-shaped pipe installed under the road. The proposed box culvert would run from Quail Valley Boulevard to the Mearns Meadow Detention Pond in Quail Creek Park. 

The project will benefit many homes. Some homes will no longer be in the floodplain. Others will remain in the floodplain, but will be much less likely to flood. Any flooding that occurs should be less severe. 

Project Features

  • 13-foot by 10-foot concrete box culvert 
  • New inlets to allow water to enter the box culvert and reduce street flooding 
  • Improvements to Mearns Meadow Detention Pond 
  • Improvements to water and wastewater lines 
  • Improvements to Quail Creek Park and trails 
  • Mearns Meadow Boulevard repaved and reconstructed 

Anticipated Construction Schedule

Construction will take place on Mearns Meadow Boulevard in four phases. 

  • Phase 1 - between Rutland Dr. and Parkfield Dr.  
    • Work resumed in July, 2023. Phase 1 work is anticipated to be completed in March 2024
  • Phase 2 – between Parkfield Dr. and Mountain Quail Rd. 
    • Work will begin at the conclusion of Phase 1. Work is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2024. 
  • Phase 3 – between Mountain Quail Rd. and Quail Valley Dr. 
    • Work will begin in early-2025 and is anticipated to be completed by mid-2025. 
  • Phase 4 – between Quail Valley Dr. and Boyer Blvd. 
    • Work will begin in mid-2025 and is anticipated to be completed by early-2026. 

Construction Impacts

This project will cause some disruptions to the neighborhood. We ask that you stay aware of safety fencing and signage and keep children and pets away from the construction area and equipment. We will coordinate with emergency workers to ensure that they will always have access to the area.  

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please expect the following:  

Noise, Dust and Vibrations: Work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

Getting Around: We will close lanes and sometimes whole blocks of Mearns Meadow Boulevard between Metric and Rutland. The street may be rough to drive on before it is reconstructed at the end of the project. Bus routes may be detoured.  

Blocked Driveways: Residents will not be able to access driveways for a few days when work is directly in front of their house. Please park cars on the street when driveway is not accessible.

Water: There is always the potential for temporary, unexpected disruptions to water or other services if a line is accidentally cut. We will take care to avoid this.  

Yards and Trees: There will be some digging in designated yards behind the curb to install 30 new inlets. The digging will be in the right of way, which extends about 10 feet behind the curb line. A City of Austin arborist will decide which trees need to be protected with fencing or planking and if any low-hanging branches need to be trimmed.   

Park: We have closed the soccer fields and other areas within Quail Creek Neighborhood Park during construction. The park, including the soccer field and the exercise equipment will be restored once work is completed. In the meantime, Brownie Park may be used as an alternative soccer field for residents.   

Estimated Budget

$19.7 million for construction

Documents 

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Contacts