Commission approves Alpha Paving contract to address street-cut backlog; staff says backlog is about 850 work orders

The Water and Wastewater Commission on March 11 authorized a contract with Alpha Paving Incorporated for the 2026 Austin Water Asphalt and Concrete Restoration program, approving an initial $2,000,000 award with options that make the not-to-exceed amount $10,000,000. Commissioners approved the item unanimously after staff described the need to supplement Transportation & Public Works to address a backlog of permanent pavement repairs arising from utility cut repairs.

Commissioner Wollstonecraft asked staff how large the backlog is and whether the contract will meaningfully reduce it. Division Manager Tanvir Anjum described Austin Water operations and the transfer process to Transportation & Public Works: "We have about 155 work orders that we transfer to Transportation and Public Works department every month," he said, and added, "Our current backlog is about 850 as of now." He said the utility tracks backlog as a performance metric with a goal to reduce it below 400 and that the IDIQ contract being authorized is intended to supplement TPW's capacity.

The chair called for a motion to approve and the commissioners moved, seconded and voted unanimously to authorize the contract. Staff said $2,000,000 in operations and maintenance funds are available for the initial year, with future spending subject to budget authorization and the contract's extension options.

What happens next: With commission approval, staff can proceed with contract execution and program delivery to address the backlog in coordination with Transportation & Public Works. Staff said TPW has committed to reduce backlog over the year and is planning additional hires to aid that effort.

Source: presentation and Q&A at the March 11 Water and Wastewater Commission meeting; quotes from Tanvir Anjum.