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Getting ready for construction

A new look and new features on our website

We’re gearing up for construction, and that means keeping you informed about upcoming activities, potential impacts and what to expect. With the environmental study behind us, it’s time to get the project built.  

We’ve refreshed the project website to meet the moment. Now when you visit OakHillParkway.com, you can easily find construction-related information including an interactive map with lane closures, frequently asked questions and the latest project news. Visit OakHillParkway.com to learn more!



We have two ways for you to get information sent directly to your email inbox:

  1. e-Newsletter Updates: If you’ve received this e-Newsletter, you’re on our list! This will be used approximately 4 to 6 times a year for newsletters and key milestone announcements. 
  2. NEW FEATURE: Weekly Construction Alerts: We welcome you to sign up for this new mailing list to receive an email every Friday with the construction activity anticipated for the following week. Weekly alerts will begin when lane closures are scheduled.

You are always able to subscribe and unsubscribe at your convenience. 
We’re also on Twitter! Join the conversation by following @OakHillParkway today.


Meet the Team: An Interview with TxDOT Project Manager Christiana Astarita, P.E. 

Christiana was named TxDOT’s project manager for the Oak Hill Parkway project in May 2018. She is responsible for overseeing the design-build contract, ensuring TxDOT safety and quality protocols are followed, and managing the entire project team.

                           

Q: What previous experience will help you the most as project manager?
A: I served as TxDOT’s project manager when the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority constructed the SH 71 toll lanes near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Like Oak Hill Parkway, that project was a design-build contract and was a great experience. I also managed TxDOT’s Local Government Oversight Program for the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority construction projects such as SH 45 Southwest, US 183 South and MoPac Express. Before working for TxDOT, I lived in Honolulu and worked for the Hawaii Department of Transportation for almost three years.

Q: What are your personal goals for the project?
A: My goals are to have the project built in a timely fashion and to see construction completed with minimal impacts to the public and businesses. I want the finished project to improve safety and mobility for the Oak Hill area while respecting neighborhoods, businesses and the character of Oak Hill.

Q: What do you anticipate will be the most challenging issue you will face on this project?
A: We need to minimize impacts of the construction to travelers and businesses. We also need to be mindful and responsive of the public’s concerns during construction. My mission is that the project’s benefits are delivered with the public in mind. 

Q: What is a design-build contract and what are the benefits to the public?
A: A design-build contract is a way to deliver transportation improvements faster. It shifts risks associated with time, cost, and schedule to the design-build team, in this case Colorado River Constructors (CRC). For Oak Hill Parkway, they will handle design, coordination on utility relocation and roadway construction. A design-build team can accomplish different project components concurrently rather than in separate phases. Some of the benefits are expedited project delivery, fixed-price contracting, and a single point of responsibility for design and construction.  

Q: Prior to being named project manager, how often did you travel through Oak Hill?
A: I have driven the corridor frequently. Now that I am working on the corridor, I drive it even more. I have sat in traffic at the “Y” intersection.  I have experienced stop-and-go traffic approaching other intersections. I have seen traffic back up behind a bicyclist because they must ride in the roadway since there are no separate bike and pedestrian pathways. I understand that area residents want safety and mobility improvements to better match the quality and beauty of the area.

Q: Since being named project manager, what have you learned about Oak Hill?
A: Working in the area each day has given me a better opportunity to experience Oak Hill’s rich and unique character. I even brought my out-of-town nieces to Oak Hill for a visit. I have also seen firsthand how fast the area is growing and how the transportation system needs improvement. I think the design-build format will deliver those improvements to Oak Hill.

Q: How has COVID-19 impacted the project?
A: There remains a need to improve safety and mobility for the benefit of area travelers, whether they are in a car or on a bus, walking or bicycling. Emergency services need better roadways to respond quickly to emergencies. US 290 continues to be one of the top 100 most congested roadways in Texas. The “Y” is very congested. We still need to improve US 290 and SH 71 in Oak Hill. 
Walking and Biking will be Better with Oak Hill Parkway
Oak Hill Parkway will offer families the opportunity to take a stroll or a bike ride in a safe environment. Shared-use paths for bicyclists and pedestrians are part of the safety and mobility improvements along the Oak Hill Parkway.

TxDOT will build 14 miles of new shared-use path as part of the project. To put that into perspective, 14 miles is:
  • The distance between the “Y” at Oak Hill and the city limits of Dripping Springs
  • More than the length of 205 football fields 
  • Equivalent to 12,320 people socially distanced
           

A shared-use path provides a travel area separate from motorized traffic for bicyclists, pedestrians, skaters, people who use wheelchairs, joggers and other users.

US 290 and SH 71 have never had dedicated paths for these forms of travel. 

            

Shared-use paths can provide a safer, low-stress experience for those using the corridor for transportation or recreation.

In a few areas where we could not accommodate a shared-use path, TxDOT will build sidewalks. Approximately 1 mile of sidewalks will be added to the corridor. 
Protecting the Edwards Aquifer
You may have noticed trucks with drilling equipment on the side of the road, boring into the ground. These tests are one of the first construction activities of the Oak Hill Parkway project. TxDOT’s design-build contractor uses the data gathered from borings to help determine what goes into the final design.
  
Since a portion of the Oak Hill Parkway project falls within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, it is particularly important to locate any karst features, or void in the bedrock, during early pre-construction activities so the design can be modified to protect water quality. 

TxDOT and CRC remain committed to protecting the environment and the Edwards Aquifer throughout construction of the Oak Hill Parkway. 


Contractor performs geotechnical investigations near “Y”, Oct. 2020
A safer, smarter, better Oak Hill Parkway with technology
Construction of the Oak Hill Parkway will incorporate technology to make the roadway safer, smarter and better. Examples of the technology to be used by CRC include:
  • Direct Current Electrical Resistivity Imaging will be used before construction begins to identify and evaluate the presence of significant karst features along the project corridor, allowing the builder to take all required environmental actions to protect those features during major drilling activities.
  • Smart Work Zones, which include portable message signs, will be used to help improve mobility and safety during construction. Intelligent Transportation Systems placed on US 290 and at the "Y" interchange will provide commuters with as much traffic information as possible along the 6-mile project corridor so they know what to expect and can adjust their route if they like.
  • A temporary Incident Detection and Surveillance System will be used at critical locations along the project area, including US 290 at South View Road, at SH 71, and at William Cannon Drive. This will alert CRC’s courtesy patrol and on-call wrecker service to speed efforts to clear traffic incidents and remove lane blockages during peak travel times.
Oak Hill Parkway
Oak Hill Parkway
3-D Animation
Copyright © 2021 Texas Department of Transportation, All rights reserved.


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