Wasterwater Relocation: Four Alternative Plans

The City of Austin will be replacing 3 exposed wastewater pipes that cross over the Willowbrook Reach, which runs along Willowbrook and Sycamore streets. Members of the neighborhood met recently with CoA staff to view 4 alternative designs for the wastewater pipe relocation.

Summary of the plans
Each of the four alternatives results in one new wastewater pipe crossing the creek, generally at a very low point. The location of the crossing differs with each alternative. There is an option for a pedestrian bridge that crosses the creek. You should be aware that the bridge cannot be placed inside the 100 year floodplain, and it will require ADA accessible entrance and exit points (at present, this is designed to be cement sidewalks, but CoA staff implies this could be negotiable).

Two of the alternatives call for relocating the wasterwater pipes within the greenbelt itself. The other two alternatives propose relocating the wastewater pipes below the surface of the streets. The costs of the alternatives are largely dependent on whether the relocation occurs within the greenbelt (cheaper) versus within the street (more expensive). Any new manhole covers in the greenbelt will be slightly above grade by a few inches.

By clicking on the links below, you can check out the 4 alternatives. These plans show the relocated wastewater pipes as dark lines, new manhole covers as circles and the old lines as dashed grey.

• Alternative 1) Pipe relocation within greenbelt with one pipe crossing at southernmost bend in the creek. Requires trenching in greenbelt. Cost: $685,000. View the Alternative 1 plan.
• Alternative 2) Pipe relocation within the street with pipe crossing at the southernmost bend in the creek. Requires street construction. Cost: $982,000. View the Alternative 2 plan.
• Alternative 3) Pipe relocation within the greenbelt with pipe crossing upstream off Sycamore Dr. Requires trenching in greenbelt. This alternative has been scoped out with a pedestrian bridge. But a ped bridge could be possible with any alternative. Cost: $627,000. Bridge: $137,000. View the Alternative 3 plan.
• Alternative 4) Pipe relocation in the street with one pipe crossing at the bottom of the greenbelt near 38.5 Street and Brookview. Requires street construction. Cost: $1,023,000. View the Alternative 4 plan.

Read the full proposal document that outlines the details and pros and cons of each plan.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: Click here to take a very short online survey that will help us know your preferred plan.

Don't worry, the survey is totally anonymous. Representatives from the CNA and FLWR will compile these results, and use this information to begin to make a recommendation on our preferred alternative to the City. We meet with the city every second Tuesday of the month (next meeting: August 10, 6:30pm) at Cherrywood Coffeehouse, so please come to those meetings and have your voice heard as well!

Wasterwater Relocation: SURVEY

This survey has been closed. Original questions follow.

Willowbrook Reach - Wastewater Line Relocation Survey

The City of Austin (COA) must relocate the wastewater lines that are currently exposed at three stream crossing locations along the Willowbrook Reach. At the request of COA, Raymond Chan & Associates prepared preliminary designs of FOUR wastewater relocation alternatives. Please review the four alternatives and the pros and cons of each at URL before participating in this survey. Please be aware that all four alternatives result in one wastewater line crossing the creek, rather than three.

NOTE: The information we collect from this survey will be used to support ONE of these alternatives. The COA will move forward with the recommendation that we make as a neighborhood.

YOUR INPUT IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!
* Required

1) Two of the alternative designs call for placing the new wasterwater lines within the Reach greenbelt. This would require trenching of the greenbelt itself. These two options are cheaper. *

• I would support these option, even though it will require trenching and potential tree removal in the Reach.
• I do not support these options.

2) Two of the alternatives call for placing the new wasterwater lines under Willowbrook and Sycamore streets, meaning the COA would tear up the streets. These two options are more expensive. *

• I support these options, even though there may be inconvenience due to greater street work.
• I do not support these options.

3) Would you support the construction of a pedestrian bridge on over the Reach? * Note: It's possible that a bridge could be build over the Reach. This bridge must be constructed outside of the 100 year floodplain, and may require ADA accessible entrance sidewalks. These qualities may be negotiable.

• I support the idea of a bridge.
• I do not support the idea of a bridge.

4) Please indicate which alternative you prefer. *

• Alternative 1. Pipe relocation in greenbelt with one pipe crossing at southernmost bend in the creek.
• Alternative 2. Pipe relocation in the street with pipe crossing at the southernmost bend in the creek.
• Alternative 3. Pipe relocation within the greenbelt with pipe crossing upstream off Sycamore Dr. (This alternative has been scoped out with a pedestrian bridge.)
• Alternative 4. Pipe relocation in the streets with one pipe crossing at the bottom of the greenbelt near 38.5 Street and Brookview.

Red-shouldered Hawk

This beautiful photo of one of our resident Red-shouldered hawks was taken recently by Rachelle Joseph. Keep an eye out for these beautiful raptors, and their cousins, the Cooper's hawks. You'll probably hear their loud screeching as well...