Project Overview

Fallwell Lane provides critical access to the City of Austin’s South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Sand Hill Energy Center. During major flood events in 2013 and 2015, flooding from Onion Creek caused significant erosion along the Colorado River bank, damaging Fallwell Lane and threatening nearby utility infrastructure.

The project will reconstruct and realign portions of Fallwell Lane farther from the river to reduce flood risk, stabilize eroding streambanks and improve drainage infrastructure. These improvements will protect critical City facilities, reduce the impacts of future flood events and ensure reliable access to the wastewater treatment plant and energy facilities.

Project Features:Reconstruction of Fallwell Lane at grade, with portions of the roadway realigned away from the Colorado River to reduce flood riskRealignment and upgrades to water and reuse water utilities within the project corridorStreambank stabilization using a combination of soft restoration techniques and engineered stabilization measuresConstruction of a soldier pile wall to protect Fallwell Lane and the Onion Creek Substation from erosionInstallation and replacement of pipe and box culverts to improve drainage and reduce future erosionBackground

Fallwell Lane provides primary access to the South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (SAR WTP) and the Sand Hill Energy Center — both critical to City utility operations. On Oct. 31, 2013 and Oct. 30, 2015, Onion Creek floodwaters inundated low areas as they flowed into the Colorado River, causing severe bank erosion, extensive damage to Fallwell Lane and a threat to the raw water intake structure at the Sand Hill Energy Center.

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A single catastrophic flood event at these facilities could cause losses of more than $1.6 billion. An extended outage could severely hamper Austin’s recovery after a flood. Under flood conditions, both plants would be inoperable — SAR WTP represents half of the City’s wastewater treatment capacity, and the Sand Hill Energy Center represents 23% of base load power capacity.

The City has previously engaged engineering, environmental, geotechnical and mapping firms to evaluate solutions for the project area. That study produced a Preliminary Engineering Report that forms the basis of this project and supported $8.8 million in CDBG-MIT grant funding.

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Temporary measures have allowed Fallwell Lane to remain open to local traffic, but those measures have a limited useful life and are showing signs of deterioration. The southern bank of the Colorado River continues to erode and Fallwell Lane is showing signs of stress. Permanent reconstruction and realignment of the access road, stabilization of berms and channels and protection of critical infrastructure are needed to guard against future flood events.

Budget

$31.8 million

The project is fully funded through the capital budgets of Austin Water, Austin Energy, Austin Transportation and Public Works and Austin Watershed Protection. Additional funding comes from three FEMA grants administered by the Texas Department of Emergency Management and an $8.8 million Community Development Block Grant–Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, administered by the Texas General Land Office.

Timeline

Construction began following a Notice to Proceed issued Oct. 13, 2025, with an estimated duration of approximately 550 days to substantial completion.

Project Map

Map of Fallwell Lane project area, featuring proposed water and reuse water lines, and proposed soldier pile wall.

Project Status

Construction is currently underway.

Completed:

Clearing and grubbingErosion control measuresSite preparation

Ongoing and next three months:

Utility and drainage workConstruction of the newly aligned portion of Fallwell LaneDrilling shafts for the soldier pile wall

Next six months:

Traffic shifted to new roadway by end of June 2026Removal of old Fallwell LaneConstruction ImpactsOccasional lane closures and utility shutoffs may occur during constructionFlaggers may be present to direct trafficOngoing construction activity in the areaDocumentsContacts

Craig McColloch, Project Manager 
Email: craig.mccolloch@austintexas.gov

Luis Cordova, Austin Energy Project Sponsor 
Email: luis.cordova@austinenergy.com

Jake Spelman, Austin Energy Project Sponsor 
Email: jake.spelman@austinenergy.com

Heraclio Bernal, Austin Water Project Sponsor 
Email: heraclio.bernal@austintexas.gov

Brent Crawford, Austin Water Project Sponsor 
Email: brent.crawford@austintexas.gov

Peter Morales, Engineering Construction Coordinator Supervisor 
Email: peter.morales@austintexas.gov

Michael Reyes, Engineering Construction Coordinator 
Email: michael.reyes@austintexas.gov

 

 

 

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