Commission approves Hyde Park pipeline change order and contingency for Northwest lift station
May 20, 2026 | Austin, Travis County, Texas
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The Water Wastewater Commission on May 20 approved two construction actions: authorization to close out Change Order 5 for the Hyde Park Water and Wastewater Pipeline Renewal project, and additional contingency for the Northwest Lift Station improvements and Rock Harbor force main.
On the Hyde Park item, Commissioner Wollstonecraft asked staff to explain the "unforeseen conditions" cited in briefing materials that drove additional relocations and extended temporary water service. Kevin Koller, Division Manager for Pipeline CIP Delivery, said the neighborhood’s infrastructure dated to the 1920s–30s and historical records were incomplete. "This neighborhood has got a lot of infill and development," Koller said, explaining crews discovered multiple taps and additional dwelling units that were not shown in older records and that private lateral relocations for landscaping and development increased scope.
After the briefing, Commissioner Wolstencroft moved to approve the change order; the motion was seconded and the item passed unanimously.
On the Northwest Lift Station and Rock Harbor force-main item, Charles Lawrence, assistant director of engineering technical services, said field conditions did not match design drawings and revealed conflicts with other utilities that required moving the force main and widening the construction zone. "Specifically for PEC and Texas Gas were in the way," Lawrence said, describing a domino effect that required redesigning traffic control and, in some sections, taking a whole lane of traffic while work proceeded.
Commissioner Pandarangi recused on this item because her firm serves as a design engineer on the project; the commission moved and approved the additional contingency with the recusal noted.
Both actions were presented as contract closeout/contingency adjustments to address field-discovered conditions and to keep projects on track; staff emphasized ongoing inspection and on-site engineering to manage conflicts as they arise.
The commission then moved on to staff briefings.
On the Hyde Park item, Commissioner Wollstonecraft asked staff to explain the "unforeseen conditions" cited in briefing materials that drove additional relocations and extended temporary water service. Kevin Koller, Division Manager for Pipeline CIP Delivery, said the neighborhood’s infrastructure dated to the 1920s–30s and historical records were incomplete. "This neighborhood has got a lot of infill and development," Koller said, explaining crews discovered multiple taps and additional dwelling units that were not shown in older records and that private lateral relocations for landscaping and development increased scope.
After the briefing, Commissioner Wolstencroft moved to approve the change order; the motion was seconded and the item passed unanimously.
On the Northwest Lift Station and Rock Harbor force-main item, Charles Lawrence, assistant director of engineering technical services, said field conditions did not match design drawings and revealed conflicts with other utilities that required moving the force main and widening the construction zone. "Specifically for PEC and Texas Gas were in the way," Lawrence said, describing a domino effect that required redesigning traffic control and, in some sections, taking a whole lane of traffic while work proceeded.
Commissioner Pandarangi recused on this item because her firm serves as a design engineer on the project; the commission moved and approved the additional contingency with the recusal noted.
Both actions were presented as contract closeout/contingency adjustments to address field-discovered conditions and to keep projects on track; staff emphasized ongoing inspection and on-site engineering to manage conflicts as they arise.
The commission then moved on to staff briefings.
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