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Waller Creek Flood-Management and Water Quality Improvements

Summary

A flood-diversion tunnel is to be constructed from W. 15th Street at Waller Creek to Town Lake. The tunnel will be some 60 feet below the surface and about 22 feet in diameter. The project will result in floodwaters being contained within the existing Waller Creek channel and will allow development near the creek.

Status

The Austin City Council approved the contract for project engineering services on May 20, 1999. Preliminary engineering studies have been underway since that time. A public meeting was held on June 29, 1999 to present the scope of the preliminary engineering investigations. Since that time, the engineering consultant has advised the City that the cost of the project will be greater than estimated in the 1996 study of the project. Supplemental project preliminary engineering studies will be authorized to study additional tunnel alignments and outlet locations in an attempt to determine the most cost-effective project. Another public meeting will be held in late February or early March of 2000 to discuss the results of the preliminary engineering investigations.

Description

The tunnel will be 22 feet in diameter, 5,500 feet long and will intercept creek flows in Waterloo Park below 15th Street and discharge to Town Lake. The project will remove 42 commercial and residential structures and 12 roadway crossings from the 100-year floodplain.

The natural baseflow (the sustained flow in a stream) of Waller Creek will be preserved and augmented by re-circulation of water through the tunnel, a water quality benefit. The diversion of flood flows will allow development along the banks which is currently prohibited by floodplain ordinance.

Two tunnel alignments are being studied in the preliminary engineering phase of the project. Both alignments will originate near W. 15th and Waller Creek. One alignment will generally be beneath Trinity Street. The other alignment will be under Red River Street. The alternate alignments will be equally effective relative to reducing the water-surface elevation of Waller Creek during flood flows. One alignment may be less costly than the other and offer other benefits.

In addition, the project will include stabilization of eroding stream banks from Fifth Street to Town Lake to protect properties and also improve water quality.

Construction is expected to start in July 2001 and be completed in July 2003.

Basic Data

Project Contact: Gary M. Kosut, P.E., Watershed Protection Utility, 499-3374
Estimated Project Cost: $25,000,000 (new estimate available in February 2000)

Revised October 29,1999

Back to the October 1999 Contents


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