City Council members approved an additional expenditure last week of a little more than $91,000 for the construction contract for restoration of infrastructure along lower Shoal Creek to Lady Bird Lake. The total budget of that project was $1,217,366 to repair erosion along the shoreline of the peninsula, restore native plants and limestone boulders and […]
Public Works Department
This city department oversees major capital improvement projects; maintains the city’s trails, roadways, and bridges; and promotes safe travel on city thoroughfares.
Posted inAustin, Transportation
Work on Fifth Street to continue through SXSW
Utility construction on Fifth Street will continue through South by Southwest, despite plans to the contrary. On Friday, Public Works Department Director Howard Lazarus sent a memo to city staff explaining the situation. Though work on the Fifth Street chilled water line was scheduled to conclude by the end of February, the discovery that welds […]
Posted inAustin, Roads, Transportation
City switches downtown streets to slow traffic
Plans to convert downtown’s Seventh, Eighth, Brazos and Colorado streets from one-way to two-way streets are underway. On Monday, City Council’s Comprehensive Planning and Transportation Committee heard a presentation on a timeline for the change from acting Transportation Department Assistant Director Jim Dale. “A lot of cities have gone through this process, of being two-way […]
Posted inDevelopment
Skyway or the highway for teaching hospital
Things got philosophical when the Planning Commission was asked to approve a sky bridge for Austin’s new teaching hospital last week. Ultimately, practical concerns won out. Commissioners voted 7-1 to approve an “aerial encroachment” for the Seton Healthcare Family facility, near the intersection of 15th and Red River streets. Commissioner Stephen Oliver voted in opposition, […]
Posted inLocal Politics
City Hall remodeling 80 percent complete
Officials with the city’s Public Works Department said Thursday that renovations to the first and second floors of City Hall are between 70 and 80 percent complete, and should be usable by late October. Construction began in July on the Council Chambers and the Executive Conference Room to accommodate the new 11-member City Council that […]
Posted inEnvironment, Transportation
Bicycle Advisory Council keeps Austin on two wheels
Bicycling is big in Austin. When you are the home of Lance Armstrong, even with his tarnished image, you’re bound to have a lot of two-wheelers on your roads, and Austin does. In fact, USA Today recently named Austin as one of the Most Bicycle Friendly Cities in the country. With the city’s hundreds of miles […]