What work is being done on Lost Creek Blvd?

Milestone Community Builders is constructing waterline improvements throughout Lost Creek and building a new water storage tank. Once complete, this infrastructure will be dedicated to the Austin Water system.  Milestone was required by the City to build this line.  93% of the water tower connection is for the benefit of the existing community.

Why is this work necessary?

This waterline construction is most primarily related to the fire protection and health and safety of your community—it is an improvement being made for your community’s benefit. Currently, the majority of the Lost Creek community does not have adequate fire flow protection because the hydrants do not have sufficient pressure. The waterline was required by the City to address these critical deficiencies in the existing water system. The new waterline, along with the large water storage tank, is intended to significantly improve both domestic water pressure and fire hydrant performance, ultimately enhancing safety and reliability for your community for decades to come.

Who owns this infrastructure once it’s complete?

All of the infrastructure being built—both the waterline improvements and the water storage tank—will be dedicated to and owned by the Austin Water system.

Could Austin Water have done this work themselves?

Yes. Austin Water could have chosen to condemn the Marshall property (or even just a portion of it) at any point in the past to build this infrastructure themselves, but they opted not to pursue that route and instead required MileStone to build the line.

What work remains to be completed?

The waterline from the elevated storage tank to the pump station was completed in December. There are 9 total tie-ins to the existing infrastructure, and 5 still need to be made. The existing infrastructure is aging and fragile, which makes the tie-in procedure much more challenging than typical. After working with the City for many months, the first 4 tie-ins have been completed, and approval was recently received to move forward with a couple more at the end of this month. We have requested an expedited tie-in plan for the remaining connections but are experiencing pushback from the City. The best estimate for completing the remaining tie-ins is May.  Much of this work is being performed at night to avoid creating problems for residents waterflow during the day.

Why has the project experienced delays?

The project has experienced substantial delays due to City inspection scheduling, daily work limitations (the City is limiting inspections and preventing more than 40 yards of progress daily), City-initiated plan revisions, and the time-consuming approval process for infrastructure tie-ins. Much of the delay with the Lost Creek improvements—approximately three months within Lost Creek alone—can be directly attributed to Austin Water’s procedures. Absent those delays, the waterline likely would have been completed more than six months ago.

What are the work hours?

The allowable work hours are 7 AM to 7 PM for onsite work and 9 AM to 4 PM for Lost Creek Blvd work. We are committed to following these hours to minimize disruption to the community. Please note that Austin Water requires night work for some elements of the project. Additionally, Texas Gas is self-performing their work and follows their own work hours.

When will Lost Creek Blvd be repaved?

The pavement repairs will happen after the waterline tie-ins are complete and the waterline is in service. We will provide updates on the repaving schedule as soon as it is confirmed.  Only a portion of the road will be repaved, including all of the disrupted areas.

How is traffic and safety being managed?

Safety—especially the safety of children getting off school buses—is our top priority. Our traffic control teams have been specifically instructed to prioritize school buses. Senior leadership regularly reviews traffic control operations to ensure that flagging procedures are being handled properly and professionally, and adjustments are made as needed.  There are other governmental agencies also doing work in the Lost Creek road, and MileStone does not have any control over how those activities are performed.

How is roadway debris being addressed?

Streets are cleaned regularly throughout the project. The team is committed to going the extra mile to clean up any debris that might represent a hazard. If you notice any safety concerns, please don’t hesitate to report them.

What about permit status and Travis County requirements?

We are actively working with Travis County and their inspectors to provide any information they need regarding permits and bonding requirements.

Can anything be done to speed up completion?

If residents feel strongly about accelerating completion, it may be helpful to communicate with City leadership regarding the importance of timely inspections and minimizing further plan changes. The sooner inspections are completed and approved plans remain unchanged, the sooner construction can be finished and traffic impacts eliminated.

What’s next?

We remain committed to completing these critical safety improvements as efficiently as possible. We are working diligently to move the project forward as quickly as possible and are working to find a pathway to complete the work with proper City approvals. Thank you again for your patience and support as we work to enhance fire protection infrastructure for the entire Lost Creek community.