BGE has been retained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as the tunneling and pump station Design Engineer for the I-35 Capital Express Central Tunnel, the Cesar Chavez Tunnel, and the US183 Pump Station in Austin, TX. The tunnels and pump station must be constructed prior to the commencement of the roadway component of the overall CapEx Central improvements.
As the tunnel and pump station engineer of record, BGE’s responsibilities include the development of plans, specifications, and cost estimates (PS&E) for the construction of a 22-ft internal diameter trunk storm drainage system that stretches over 6 miles, at a depth of 70-200 feet below the surface, through downtown Austin. The pump station, located at US183 and Cesar Chavez, includes the design of a pump house with customized concrete volute pumps sized at over 100,000 GPM. The design includes emergency backup power and standby pumping units for reliability and redundancy.
“We are thrilled to support TxDOT on this extremely vital project that will ultimately benefit Texas commuters. Delivering this critical path project for TxDOT is BGE’s top priority,” said Wesley Jasek, BGE’s Central Texas Operations Leader.
The design for the tunnel and pump station system began in January of 2023 and is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Bidding for each construction package is scheduled for June 2024, with final completion slated for 2028 at an estimated overall cost of $750 Million.
To date, BGE has met every project milestone for this accelerated, high-profile project by using a wealth of resources throughout the firm. Our core project team consists of over 30 engineers and has been supported by over 100 members since the beginning of 2023. This rapidly evolving and challenging assignment demonstrates BGE’s depth and ability to staff projects with the right people, regardless of size or complexity.