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Or Call the Hotline
O Llame la Línea directa telefónica:
1-855-33HOLLY
(1-855-334-6559)
We recently had someone submit a question through our “Contact Us” page about the the noise is that is emanating from the power plant area.
The noise you hear is from work that the city’s Water and Waste Water Department is performing next to the park in order to remove the lift station that has been there for years and at times providing a foul odor to the neighborhood. The work will be completed by the end of December and the lift station will be gone forever along with the smell. There are currently no activities inside the power plant that are emanating any loud noise that you could hear from your home near the Holly Plant Area.
Austin Energy and TRC will notify the neighborhood in advance during the plant removal activities of any unusual sounds you may hear from the work that will be performed.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. When will the project start?
October 2011
2. When will the project end?
Anticipated date is in Q4 2013
3. What is the project timeline?
The removal of the power plant will be completed in 2013 and additional site decontamination and removal of underground utilities will continue for about another year before the area surrounding the Austin Energy transmission facilities is transferred to the City of Austin Parks Department.
4. What percentage or what time frame will be dedicated to the “asbestos removal” portion of the plan? Is it during the entire 18 months or only during a certain phase of the project?
Asbestos removal will be conducted as needed throughout the entire project implementing asbestos containment and removal procedures whenever asbestos is encountered.
5. Are there any plans by the company who has the contract for Holly Street to sell any of the equipment inside the plant before it is demolished, such as the smaller items like lighting fixtures, work benches, storage cabinets, factory carts and things of that nature?
Under the contract terms that Austin Energy signed with TRC (the City of Austin awarded demolition contractor), TRC owns all of the equipment and materials and nothing will be left in Austin Energy’s possession for disposal. In the event TRC decides to sell some of the smaller items in the Austin area, we will notify the public.
6. Once demolition begins, will the hike and bike trail be rerouted?
The trail will remain in place as is until demolition is completed, then a newly added trail along the plant’s shoreline will reconnect with the existing shoreline trail.
7. What is the plan for the land that the power plant occupies? Park? Housing?
The land that will be left after the four power plant units are removed will remain as Austin Energy property. A fence surrounding this area as well as the switchyard to the North, the substation on the west, and the adjacent statcom facilities will be constructed after the demolition and all remediation activities have been completed. This area is required by Austin Energy to maintain the energized electrical facilities and infrastructure that will continue to supply power to the downtown area and other parts of the city.
Click Picture to enlarge:
8. Will the portion of the trail near the plant be kept open for group walking or running events during demolition?
Yes it will be kept open during the entire time the plant is being demolished. At no time will the trail be closed. During working hours there will be flaggers that will momentarily stop any joggers or bicyclists where the trail crosses the haul road going into the plant if a truck is approaching the trail crossing.
9. Why are there trucks going up Mildred instead of Pedernales like was stated before?
The trucks going up Mildred are removing material from the Canterbury lift station, a water and waste water project. Truck traffic associated with the Holly Plant removal will only travel on Perdenales and Cesar Chavez streets.
10. Can I park my car on Pedernales street between Canterbury and the Holly power plant?
No. Barricades have been installed on both sides of the road from Canterbury towards the power plant designating the road strictly for construction vehicles only. Any vehicle left in that area will be towed at the owner’s expense.
11. What is the plan for the remaining land that will not be retained by Austin Energy?
Current plans call for approximately 9.3 acres of land surrounding, Austin Energy property that will be kept to service the remaining electrical infrastructure, to be turned over to the City’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) for development into a park. PARD has engaged the services of a master planner that will help them develop a plan for park improvements over an area from IH-35 along Lady Bird Lake all the way to Pleasant Valley road on the east. PARD and the master planner will be soliciting public input from neighborhood residents living adjacent to that area sometime this year. Please call PARD for additional information.
12. Is there an emergency plan in place developed by the contractor and Austin Energy during the entire time of the demolition work?
Yes. An emergency plan that responds to any type of abnormal incident like a fire, truck derailment, or personnel injuries has been developed in conjunction with the City’s Fire Department. The Fire Department will be the first responders for any type of emergency that may occur and their fire trucks will use the Pedernales construction route into the plant. The Fire Department has stated that based on their evaluation of the current site and the work being performed, there is nothing unusual that can occur that they cannot respond to and alleviate.