Photos

An Oak Hill Parkway team member supervises a boring machine drilling a tunnel for a waterline to run underneath US 290. This trenchless method of construction allows the work to take place while traffic flows safely and uninterrupted above. January 2022

The Oak Hill Parkway crew excavates and grades for the future eastbound US 290 frontage road near El Rey Boulevard. Temporary concrete barriers along US 290 separate traffic from active construction areas, which keeps drivers safe while work takes place close to the roadway. February 2022

An Oak Hill Parkway team member installs rebar before concrete is poured for a future drainage culvert beneath US 290 near South View Road. Culverts are designed to channel water from one side of the roadway to the other, thereby limiting the amount of water accumulating on the roadway above. February 2022

This drill bores a hole into the rock near US 290 and Convict Hill Road to hold a reinforced concrete column foundation for a future sound wall. The team is building sound walls first to help reduce both construction noise as well as future traffic noise. February 2022

A loader fills a hauling truck with recently excavated rock and dirt near US 290 and El Rey Boulevard. While most excavation activities take place during the day, loading and hauling activity occurs around the clock to reduce the project schedule while also allowing for less daytime traffic impacts. February 2022

This temporary safety signage near US 290 and South View Road helps serve as a reminder to the team about the location of nearby power lines. This is one of many proactive safety measures being taken to avoid unnecessary utility outages during construction. February 2022

Oak Hill Parkway team members perform a quality check midway through construction of a cast-in-place wall near US 290 and RM 1826. Once the rebar is in place, the next step will be pouring the concrete wall foundation, or footer. February 2022

A loader pushes away a pile of newly unearthed rock and dirt removed by the large trencher in the background. The loader and trencher work in tandem during excavation activities for future wall construction near US 290 and Convict Hill Road. February 2022

This massive 70-foot-long trenching machine is used for excavating. The carbide teeth on the trenching machine are nearly as hard as diamonds. February 2022

The Oak Hill Parkway team recently completed Phase 1 of this retaining wall near US 290 and Circle Drive, which enables upcoming traffic shifts for future mainlane and bridge construction nearby. Work on Phase 2 of the wall will begin in 2023. February 2022

Large steel anchor nails are installed with this horizontal drill rig for a new retaining wall near US 290 and Circle Drive. This type of soil nail wall construction allows for a permanent wall to be built while excavating in narrow areas, such as here alongside a busy highway. February 2022

Oak Hill Parkway team members use saws to cut concrete next to the US 290 bridge over Old Fredericksburg Road. Several existing bridges will be widened along US 290 east of MoPac as part of the Oak Hill Parkway Project. January 2022

Oak Hill Parkway team members build a retaining wall near US 290 and RM 1826. A temporary orange construction fence runs adjacent to the TxDOT right-of-way line and keeps private properties separated from the active work areas below. February 2022

Oak Hill Parkway crews use jackhammers to remove the barrier on the US 290 overpass bridge at Old Fredericksburg Road. This bridge widening will make room for additional lanes of traffic on each side of US 290. March 2022

An excavator with a hammering attachment chips away at the barrier for the US 290 overpass bridge at Old Fredericksburg Road. This removal work is the first step of widening this bridge to add additional lanes in each direction. March 2022

A ‘Road Closed’ sign marks a temporary driveway closure for drainage improvements on US 290 near Circle Drive. As driveway closures for roadway improvements begin across the project corridor, access to properties will be maintained. March 2022

Austin Energy workers lift a new power pole into place at US 290 near Convict Hill Road. This utility relocation work will allow the team to build a new shared-use path for bicycles and pedestrians. March 2022

This loader crushes rock with a dragging hook along the future US 290 frontage road near RM 1826. The hook is used to remove soft rock before crews begin using excavation machines. March 2022

Oak Hill Parkway crews drill new bridge foundations near US 290 and Old Bee Caves Road. These 20-foot-deep drilled shafts will hold columns to support the new US 290 westbound frontage road bridges. March 2022

Oak Hill Parkway team members inspect newly delivered rebar to be used during construction of concrete bridge columns. These columns will hold up the new US 290 frontage road bridge near Old Bee Caves Road. March 2022

AT&T workers relocate a communications line on Mowinkle Drive near Circle Drive. This will become a signalized intersection in the project’s final design, and the relocation makes room for the placement of traffic signal poles. March 2022

Oak Hill Parkway team members inspect recently placed drainage infrastructure as excavators work behind them to bury the rest of the underground pipe. This new drainage line sits underneath the location of a future westbound deceleration lane from US 290 near Circle Drive. March 2022

The team prepares to build columns on top of drill shaft foundations near US 290 and South View Road. These columns will hold up a new sound wall being built near the Ridgeview neighborhood during project construction. January 2022

Looking west down US 290, two excavators work in tandem near the entrance to Alister Oak Hill apartments. In this location, US 290 will feature a widened center median and westbound deceleration lane for improved driver safety. March 2022

Oak Hill Parkway crew member conducts a concrete and rebar quality check on bridge foundation at US 290 near Old Bee Caves Road. These foundations will be followed by the construction of concrete columns that will support the future US 290 westbound frontage road bridge over Williamson Creek. April 2022

A grader levels the ground near a newly built wall at US 290 near Circle Drive. This work enables crews to shift traffic on US 290, allowing more space for future wall construction along US 290. April 2022

An excavator fills hauling trucks at US 290 near Convict Hill Road. Crews are currently excavating rock and dirt from this area. April 2022

Oak Hill Parkway pipelayers install a new water line at US 290 near El Rey Boulevard. April 2022

Austin Energy workers install new power lines along US 290 near the Y interchange. Utility relocations are taking place along the entire Oak Hill Parkway corridor to make room for new roadway improvements. April 2022

Oak Hill Parkway crews construct a rock filter dam at US 290 near Convict Hill Road. Installation of these water quality best management practices help the team meet all TCEQ Edwards Aquifer requirements. April 2022

Oak Hill Parkway equipment operators crush rock and dirt alongside US 290 near Convict Hill Road. Crews are building walls in this area that will support the future westbound US 290 frontage road. April 2022

Oak Hill Parkway trucks use designated access points to enter and exit work zones. Stop sign installed near these construction entrances and exits help maintain safety along the US 290 corridor. April 2022

Crews install a new shared-use path next to US 290 near Monterey Oaks Boulevard. Fourteen miles of new shared-use paths or sidewalks will be installed along the project corridor as part of the new Oak Hill Parkway. April 2022

A truck delivers fresh concrete for a sound wall foundation near US 290 and South View Drive. Team members only have a few hours to pour concrete before it begins to harden after it is mixed. January 2022

A newly built driveway connects Oak Hill business South Austin Marine to US 290. As shared-use paths are installed throughout the project corridor, many driveways will be re-constructed to meet accessibility standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. April 2022

Oak Hill Parkway team members pour concrete into a rebar frame at US 290 near Convict Hill Road. This wall will support a new shared-use path and serve as the foundation for a future sound wall to be built near Bell Quarry Hill apartments. April 2022

Oak Hill Parkway team members use a rotating saw to cut portions of a 30-inch pipe before it is placed in a trench. This pipe will serve as a main water transmission line to a community from a water treatment plant and feed smaller distribution lines. January 2022

Two milling machines simultaneously work to crush heavy rock along US 290 near El Rey Boulevard. Project crews are lowering the grade for a section of the new eastbound US 290 frontage road being built. January 2022

A forklift moves a drainage base box in preparation for installation near El Rey Boulevard. The Oak Hill Parkway Project design includes multiple drainage improvements along the US 290 and SH 71 corridors. January 2022

Oak Hill Parkway team members guide a forklift during placement of a water line fitting into a trench near Circle Drive. This curved fitting will connect a 30-inch water transmission line to smaller 16-inch distribution lines. January 2022

A water truck fills up before heading out to a work site. Spraying down active construction areas with water trucks is one of several dust mitigation methods being used during the Oak Hill Parkway project. January 2022

A water truck sprays down the job site's subgrade. This is one of the procedures the team uses to control dust in active construction areas. December 2021

This trencher digs out the location for an underground utility line adjacent to El Rey Boulevard and US 290. December 2021

Oak Hill Parkway workers install the wire mesh reinforcement for the second five-foot layer of a retaining wall. The first five feet on top is complete. December 2021

Excavators work to remove soil and rock next to completed sections of a retaining wall This retaining wall is built from top-to-bottom five feet at a time to hold rock in place while excavating to a lower grade. December 2021

The team hangs wire mesh for a retaining wall on US 290 near Circle Drive. Above them, construction fencing has been placed as a safety measure and to separate work areas from nearby homes. December 2021

A surveyor performs a final check on a sound wall foundation near US 290 and South View Road. The sound wall will mitigate traffic noise after the Oak Hill Parkway project is completed. December 2021

This earthwork foreman uses an iPad to manage safety analysis at the start of a workday. Proactive planning, including the placement of signage to alert workers to nearby utility lines, is essential to keeping construction teams as well as the public safe during the Oak Hill Parkway Project. December 2021

The team installs wire mesh reinforcements. Behind them a large soil nail drilling machine works to build a new retaining wall near US 290 and Circle Drive. December 2021

The team prepares to cut and place wire mesh to reinforce a retaining wall being built near US 290 and Circle Drive. December 2021

An Oak Hill Parkway team member uses a grinder blade to cut a soil nail steel anchor bolt to the proper length during retaining wall construction on US 290 near Circle Drive. December 2021

The team is using several different trenching machines to cut into thick limestone rock during excavation of the future US 290 mainlanes and frontage roads west of the “Y” interchange. November 2021

The team uses trenchers during utility relocations to install new pipes and lines underground. This trench being cut near South View Road will be used for a new City of Austin water line. November 2021

Our surveyors use a GPS stick to pinpoint job site coordinates. This helps the construction crew follow the boundaries of detailed engineering plans. October 2021

The construction team uses a dozer to grade slopes during work activities along the US 290 West Segment. October 2021

The team uses excavators to remove large amounts of dirt before grading activities begin in the US 290 West Segment. October 2021

A piece of equipment called a “sheepsfoot roller” compacts dirt embankments in advance of grading activities for a new sound wall near South View Road. October 2021

A motor grader is used to create a smooth, wide-ranging, and level surface in advance of sound wall construction activities along the US 290 West Segment. October 2021

Crews dig near US 290 and Hudson Loop to find an existing 12-inch waterline. Determining depths of existing lines before construction will help engineers properly plan for upcoming utility relocations connected to the project. September 2021

Ecologists survey for bird nests in difficult-to-access locations, such as tall trees and deep shrubbery, to ensure any active nests are identified and protected in advance of construction. September 2021

Trained ecologists conduct mandatory bird nesting surveys in state right-of-way ahead of construction activities beginning near US 290 and Convict Hill Road. September 2021

Crews install a fence between the Bell Quarry Hill apartments and state right-of-way off of US 290. Separating construction work areas from nearby apartments, homes and businesses are some important safety measures taking place before major work on Oak Hill Parkway begins. September 2021

Our quality control teams measure each boring location to ensure drillers reached the proper depth, August 2021

Crews move equipment into place to perform a drilling operation near William Cannon Drive, August 2021

Crews install a rock filter dam near the US 290/SH 71 “Y” interchange, one of the many stormwater best management practices being used to protect the Edwards Aquifer during construction, August 2021

Crews perform utility investigations near Convict Hill Road in advance of project-related utility relocations beginning later this year, August 2021

Geotechnical teams organize several soil boring samples for testing. The results will help inform the final design of several Oak Hill Parkway structures, August 2021

Crews install a rock filter dam for erosion control to protect water resources, August 2021

TxDOT officially began construction on the Oak Hill Parkway project with the turn of shovels, July 2021

On July 1, 2021, it was a beautiful day to mark the beginning of this community-driven project.

CRC crews use iPads to view design plans in the field, which increases productivity while also reducing paper waste, May 2021

Crews note the exact locations of direct-current electrical resistivity imaging (DC-ERI) sensors in relation to future roadway bridge piers, May 2021

Crews strategically place direct-current electrical resistivity imaging (DC-ERI) sensors along the future footprint of a bridge near US 290 and Old Bee Caves Road, May 2021

Tree protection fencing near US 290 and Williamson Creek is inspected, May 2021

The project’s tree care experts inject nutrients into the soil of “The Nieces” iconic trees during regularly scheduled preservation activities, May 2021

Iconic trees “The Nieces” remain fenced off in a dedicated “Tree Protection Area” near William Cannon Drive, May 2021

Tree protection fencing was placed throughout the corridor, Dec. 2020

Contractor performs geotechnical investigations near "Y", Oct. 2020

The "Y" at Oak Hill, 2017

Westbound US 290 at SH 71, 2017

Westbound US 290 at William Cannon Drive, 2017