William Cannon Drive Bridge Stabilization - West Approach
William Cannon Drive Bridge Stabilization - West Approach
The City of Austin is stabilizing the retaining walls on the west approach of the West William Cannon Drive bridge. Thank you for visiting the project website. Scroll down to learn more and to submit questions to the project team.
Project Scope
Work will occur between Cannonleague Drive and the Union Pacific railroad tracks. Crews will install over 500 soil nails into the bridge’s retaining walls before adding a new layer of concrete to each wall. This work will stabilize the sediment beneath the roadway and ensure safe travel conditions for decades to come.
Timeline
What to Expect
Crews will work six days a week (Monday through Saturday) for approximately ten hours a day. Nearby residents can expect to see heavy equipment and hear construction noise and vibrations near the work zone. We thank the public for their patience and understanding during this important safety project.
The City will establish a traffic control plan along William Cannon Drive between Menchaca Road and Woodhue Drive. The traffic control will ensure the safety of the project crews during construction. Two lanes of vehicle traffic will be maintained in each direction during construction. Pedestrian access will be maintained on one side of the street during construction. Please keep crews safe by traveling slowly and cautiously through work zones. Follow all traffic control signs when traveling through work zones.
Updates
October 2024: As construction on the William Cannon Drive Bridge Stabilization draws to a close, the project remains within budget and on time for completion by late November 2024.
Recent Developments:
- Coping (the top covering of the bridge wall), sidewalk, and traffic rail work are complete.
- Excavation for the drainage channel on the south side has commenced.
- Installation of the privacy fence along the north side of the bridge has commenced.
Upcoming Tasks:
- Subgrade proof rolling, a practice that examines the mass response of subgrade to vehicle-type loads before pavement layers are constructed, is set to begin on the north side.
- A traffic lane shift to the center lanes is tentatively scheduled for November 1. This change is anticipated to last for two weeks.
August 2024: Work on the north side is now set to begin. The south side is nearly complete, with a concrete drainage ditch to be installed at the toe of the wall in the fall as the project nears completion. Construction on the north side will mirror completed work on the south side. This includes coping (the top covering of the bridge wall), traffic rail, sidewalk, curb and gutter, a fence with privacy slats, and subgrade work.
Recent Developments:
- Work on the north side will commence on August 19.
- Lane closures on West William Cannon (along the bridge) between Woodhue Dr. and Menchaca Rd. will flip to accommodate the shift to the north side.
- The road on the bridge will be repaired at the end of the project, with completion estimated for Fall 2024 dependent on weather conditions.
Reminders:
- The construction site is for authorized personnel only. Full Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) must be worn by anyone in the construction area.
- City of Austin permitted construction hours are:
- Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
July 2024: The soil nail scope of work is complete on the north and south sides of the west approach. After completion of the soil nails, crews added a new layer of concrete called "shotcrete" to the area of the retaining walls where the soil nails were installed.
Work on the north side of the roadway is expected to begin in 4-6 weeks, when the south side is complete.
This is where the project stands today:
Completed Phase 1:
- Installation of over 650 soil nails
- Schotcrete (sprayed concrete)
- Installation of an additional 300 soil nails
- The sidewalk and coping (the top or covering of the bridge wall) on the south side has been completed.
Upcoming Phase 2
- Guardrails
- New privacy fence at the top of the roadway
- Curb and gutter repairs
- Pavement repairs
- Coping (bridge cap wall)
Reminders:
- The construction site is for authorized personnel only. Full Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) must be worn by anyone inside the gate. This is indicated on the signage on the fence.
- City of Austin construction hours are Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
May 2024: The Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls scope of work for the north and south sides of the William Cannon Drive West approach has been completed.
December 2023/January 2024: Emergency repairs of the West William Cannon Bridge west approach continue. Phase 1 of stabilization of the overpass was completed in December. In January, teams will begin work on Phase 1A. The project limit for Phase 1A is restricted to the west approach, beginning at Cannonleague Drive and extending to the west side of the bridge.
For more information, please contact: CapitalDelivery@AustinTexas.gov.
Meet the Contractor
The City hosted a virtual Meet the Contractor meeting on Thursday, May 4.
Funding
The City’s Transportation and Public Works Department identified approximately $4 million in emergency funds from its operating budget for this project. The Capital Delivery Services Department is managing the project through all phases of design, construction and inspection.