Torn-up streets and road closure signs are still common throughout Austin as the city strives to complete construction projects before winter sets in.

While most are either complete, in progress or scheduled to begin soon, work will be delayed until 2018 on East Side Alley and First Street Southwest. Austin Public Works Director Steven Lang cited weather and contractor workload as the primary cause of the delays.

“This year, we have come to realize that our two main contractors, Ulland Bros. and Hanson Hauling, both have a great deal of work outside of our city projects,” he said. “We also understand that every year we have to adjust to the weather, but when the contractors are spread thin on multiple projects, weather delays just compound the problem.”

Lang said that communication, soil condition and material availability were also factors contributing to the delays.

According to Lang, the decision was made to delay work on East Side Alley and First Street Southwest “rather than rush through the construction, sacrificing quality for speed or possibly not getting the project completed before winter.”

“Ultimately it is residents that are most impacted by public works projects,” he said. “Our projects can impact traffic access, like the Oakland Place Bridge, or they may impact access to their homes, like many of our street reconstruction projects.”

“Residents typically don’t care why a project is delayed or behind schedule, they just want to see results,” he added. “That is where communication plays a big part and our onsite inspectors do their best to keep the residents up to speed on the project progress.”

Streets that are currently under construction are scheduled for completion on dates ranging from mid-September to late October. Work on Sixth Street Southwest and 16th Avenue Southeast near Woodson Kindergarten Center is scheduled for completion in mid-November.

Completion dates

Projected street project completion schedule. For more information, call 507-437-9949.

• 27th Avenue Northwest (Cook Farm) – Sept. 18

• Fourth Drive Southwest. Phase Three – Sept. 25

• Ninth Place Southwest, Street Lighting – Mill and Overlay – Sept. 25

• Fourth Avenue Northwest – Oct. 16

• Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Avenues Northwest – Oct. 16

• Cresthaven Pond Detention Basin – Oct. 16

• Fourth Street Southwest – Oct. 23

• Nelson Lift Station – Oct. 23

• 22nd Street Drainage – Oct. 23

• Sixth Street Southeast and 16th Street Southeast – Nov. 13