Waller Creek Tunnel Project, Austin, Texas

Since the 1970's, diversion of Waller Creek flood flow has been a goal of the City of Austin to reduce the risk of flooding to businesses downstream of Waterloo Park (15^th Street), thereby encouraging planned development close to the creek and at the street level above. In 1999 the City of Austin selected a joint venture comprised of Espey Consultants, Inc. and Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc. (JV) to provide professional services for preliminary design, final design and construction management services for the proposed Waller Creek Flood Diversion Tunnel Project in downtown Austin, Texas. The project includes statistical analyses, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and optimization, preliminary and final design and economic analyses. The estimated cost of the project exceeds $100 million and will be under construction in the fall of 2010. Construction will be complete in 2014. The project consists of a one-mile long, 22-foot diameter bypass tunnel, inlet and outlet structures, and side overflow weir diversion system. The inlet at Waterloo Park will divert approximately 85% of the 5.75 square mile watershed to the outlet at Lady Bird Lake. The side overflow weir system will divert stormwater flow from the lower portion (approximately 15%) of the watershed to the main flood control tunnel. Upon project completion, the 100-year flood event flow will be contained within the existing creek channel downstream of the inlet structure.