TxDOT advances massive drainage tunnel beneath I-35 in Austin
Behind towering noise barriers along I-35, crews are digging deep access shafts for one of the largest tunnel projects in Austin history, KUT News reports. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is constructing a 6.5-mile underground drainage tunnel to prevent flooding as part of the $4.5 billion I-35 expansion through Travis County.
The 22-foot-wide tunnel will channel stormwater from new sunken main lanes—set to drop up to 65 feet below grade—into the Colorado River. Construction will rely on two Herrenknecht “double shield” tunnel boring machines arriving from Germany in 2026, capable of advancing up to 50 feet per day while installing pre-cast concrete lining.
Nine vertical shafts are being excavated along the route, with work already underway at Airport Boulevard, 11th Street and Cesar Chavez Street, KUT News reported. To handle runoff, TxDOT will build a pump station at U.S. 183 capable of moving 130,000 gallons per minute.
The $1 billion drainage effort raises concerns about vibrations affecting historic structures along East Cesar Chavez and environmental impacts from 24/7 excavation. TxDOT, along with contractors SAK and Shea, will monitor building conditions and adjust tunneling if needed. Public outreach events are planned to give Austinites a close look at the massive boring machines before work begins.
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