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The exterior building of the CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station built by BGE, Inc.

CapEx Central Drainage Tunnels & Pump Station

BGE designed two large-diameter tunnels beneath IH 35 and East Cesar Chavez Street in downtown Austin to alleviate flooding. The tunnels will convey stormwater to a pump station and discharge it into the Colorado River. This project is part of the larger IH 35 expansion.

Overview

The CapEx Drainage Tunnels project is the first phase of the overall CapEx roadway expansion of IH 35 in downtown Austin. BGE was responsible for the PS&E and related documents for the project, including the design of two bored drainage tunnels (IH 35 and Cesar Chavez) and a pump station.

The IH 35 Tunnel is approximately 18,000 linear feet of 22-foot outer diameter tunnel, located approximately 100 feet below ground under IH 35, from River Street to Airport Boulevard. The connecting Cesar Chavez Tunnel is approximately 16,000 linear feet of 22-foot outer diameter tunnel, located approximately 100 feet below ground under East Cesar Chavez Street, from IH 35 to just east of the Cesar Chavez Street/Airport Boulevard/US 183 interchange. The tunnel system conveys the storm flow to a 101,000 gpm dewatering pump station located just east of the Cesar Chavez Street/Airport Boulevard/US 183 interchange, with an ultimate discharge into the Colorado River.

Services

Services included preliminary engineering, specialized tunnel design, pump station design, surveying, geotechnical data collection and analysis, geotechnical baseline reports, and construction phase services. The project included the design of ten 18- to 40-foot-diameter maintenance and hydraulic drop shafts. BGE conducted contractor outreach, stakeholder presentations, and significant coordination with the City of Austin regarding utilities, water quality, power distribution, and real estate.

COA PROJECT RELEVANCE:

  • Installation of 6.5-mile-long 22-foot-diameter tunnel
  • Significant coordination with AW
  • Real estate acquisition
  • Contractor industry outreach
  • Similar budget

Project

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A 3D model of men working inside the CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station built by BGE, Inc.
The exterior building of the CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station built by BGE, Inc.
A 3D model of a cross section of the CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station built by BGE, Inc.
A 3D model of a large warehouse space at the CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station built by BGE, Inc.
A 3D model of blue water pumps outside of the CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station built by BGE, Inc.
A large 3D model of a cross section of the CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station showing where generators are
A 3D aerial view of the CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station built by BGE, Inc.
A 3D model showing the exterior and interior levels of CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station from the rear
A 3D model showing the exterior and interior levels of CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station from the front
A 3D rendering of the exterior of the CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station against a stormy sky
A 3D model of the exterior of CapEx Drainage Tunnels and Pump Station designed and developed by BGE, Inc.

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