Transportation
BY HALEY MCLEOD
TxDOT spends $748M to burrow tunnels under Central Austin
The Texas Department of Transpor- tation is set to launch one of Austin’s largest underground construction projects in 2026, digging 6.5 miles of 22-foot-wide drainage tunnels beneath the city’s busiest highway. Explained As part of the I-35 overhaul, which will lower sections of the highway below ground level, o cials will build underground tunnels to prevent ooding. Plans show the tunnels would extend along I-35 from 45th Street down to Cesar Chavez Street, then veer east on Cesar Chavez and end near US 183 by Lady Bird Lake. Boring crews will drill nine drop shafts along the proposed tunnel
route in phases. The rst tunnel boring machine will be deployed near Airport Boulevard in 2026. Once the drop shafts are completed two boring machines will begin cutting tunnels between each. Contractor Sak & Shea will oversee the $748 million project, which is being funded by TxDOT and federal dollars obtained by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. What residents should know Construction work will be done around the clock and is expected to generate dust and cause some vibra- tion in the area. Temporary sound walls have been erected. The entire project completion is estimated for 2029.
I 35 drainage tunnels
A Airport Boulevard drop shaft B Hancock drop shaft C 15th Street drop shaft D Edgewood drop shaft E 11th Street drop shaft F Cesar Chavez drop shaft G Brushy Street drop shaft H River Street drop shaft I US 183 drop shaft Pump station Drainage tunnel
A
B
HANCOCK RECREATION CENTER
EDGEWOOD AVE.
C
RED RIVER ST.
35
D
NAVASOTA ST.
E
BRUSHY ST.
F
G
RIVER ST.
H
183
COLORADO RIVER
I
LADY BIRD LAKE
N
15
SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
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