The Highland Park Water & Wastewater Improvement Project is being planned to construct a second water line to feed into the area. The project will run about three miles from Far West Blvd. to Crestway Dr. with much of the work being done along Balcones Drive.
Water line breaks are well documented in this area, and the existing 12-inch line is a dead-end and not connected or looped with other water lines. The new 16” line will improve water service in the area and allow for the decommissioning of an antiquated pump station and reservoir located on Ridge Oak Drive. In addition, the new water line will be connected with existing water lines so that fewer customers will experience water outages when there is a line break in the future.
Wastewater infrastructure adjacent to the proposed waterline was studied in early stages of design, and wasterwater lines and manholes deemed deficient will be replaced or rehabilitated.
Timeline
The project will be constructed in two phases:
- Phase 1: From Far West Blvd. to Northland Dr. (FM 2222) began construction in April 2020. Approximate construction duration is 3 years.
- Phase 2: From Northland Dr. (FM 2222) to Crestway/Mount Barker Dr. will begin construction in May 2021. Approximate construction duration is 3 years.
Communications
Watch a recording of the March 30, 2021 Online Meeting for Phase 2.
View the March 30, 2021 Online Meeting Presentation
Review the Project Update Archive
Click here to sign-up to receive email updates about this project.
Project Documents
Link to Customer Letter Nov. 19
FAQs
How will the land on Ridge Oak Drive be used after the reservoir is decommissioned?
Building the new 16-inch water line will allow Austin Water to decommission the antiquated pump station and reservoir located on Ridge Oak Drive. After construction of the water line is complete, Austin Water will initiate a project to decommission the facility but the exact timeline for this project is yet to be determined. At this time, Austin Water will evaluate whether the land is needed for utility operations and will consider community input in determining its future use.
What are the working hours? Which days?
Working hours will generally be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Work outside of these hours may be necessary on occasion. Temporary traffic controls, which will include some lane closures and detours, are generally in place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How loud will it be?
You will hear heavy equipment during work hours. Noise limitations in the City’s noise ordinance are observed from 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Will my water be turned off?
Customers adjacent to the where the new waterline connects to the existing system will experience temporary loss of water service when the connection is made. The project inspector will provide notice 48-hours prior to water service being turned off by placing door tags on front doors. It typically takes several hours for connections to be completed and water service to be restored. Emergency water outages are possible. Crews will repair any unintended breaks in the existing line as soon as possible and will work carefully to try to avoid them.
Will you dig up my lawn?
Most work will occur in the street and in the right of way. Disturbance to areas behind the curb is expected where new fire hydrants, air release valves and wastewater services will be installed. In many cases, the right of way is located between the street and the sidewalk, in an area that you may consider to be part of your lawn. We will notify you as we start work on your street so that you may remove plants or personal items. If you have irrigation system pipes, landscape features or retaining walls in the City of Austin right-of-way, they may need to be moved in advance of the construction. If the contractor damages any of the private home owner features in the right-of-way, repair and costs to repair these features are the responsibility of the homeowner. The contractor will restore grass, curb and gutter, and/or sidewalk within the right of way to similar condition before construction. Environmental controls such as tree protection fencing and silt fence may be installed behind the curb prior to actual construction work.
What are your plans for repaving the streets?
We will repair trenches during construction of the utility lines. Following completion of all work on all streets, pavement will be restored. All streets will be milled/overlaid with a new asphalt surface.
Project Contacts
Shobana Angia, Project Manager
512-974-1581
Email Shobana
Emlea Chanslor, Public Information
(512) 972-0145
Email Emlea