Austin: Dittmar Road to be closed 6 months or more

The city's Watershed Protection Department is expected to finish designing an erosion mitigation plan in January, according to city spokeswoman Alexa Muraida.

Steinbarger wrote that the design will include the right of way and other easements required within the private property.

He added that while the design work is continuing, "the Office of Real Estate Services will attempt to negotiate the identified easements with the property owner."

"Depending on the success of the negotiations, construction will begin shortly after and take approximately three to six months to complete," he wrote.

"As a result, we believe the road will be closed for six months, if not longer," he added.

Muraida said the process can take up to a year in some instances when negotiations are pending.

The city has not provided a cost estimate for the project because the design criteria and easement purchase are still outstanding.