Central Texas News

AUSTIN – After a brief halt in construction, work sites across Austin are open again due to an executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott that defines all construction as essential, superseding the city's classifications that halted some construction.

The change in policy came due to definitions created at the state level that now supersede classifications created by the city’s order, according to reporting by KVUE.

Approximately a week after the stay-at-home order from the city placed different types of construction on either side of the definition of what was considered essential work – and therefore permitted to continue – the City of Austin Development Services Department issued a letter that classified all construction as essential.

The letter states that the new classification of all construction as essential comes due to an executive order from Abbott, who created statewide definitions regarding which services are considered essential.

“Consistent with the Governor’s orders, all construction is considered essential. Committee review is no longer required to determine eligibility for project continuation,” the letter states.

The letter also details that there will still be additional controls on construction sites related to the COVID-19 crisis.

“The city’s worker protection requirements remain in place,” the letter states. “Austin code inspectors will continue to monitor construction sites to ensure that social distancing and recommended hygiene practices are being observed.”

Guidance for all construction work put forward by the city includes directions for maintaining social distancing as well as guidance on pre-screening workers on the job site to determine their general health and stipulations such as prohibiting community water coolers.

"The governor’s order trumps the city and allows construction to proceed," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said in a release. "We’ll continue to enforce the non-conflicting parts of the city order to mitigate the risk for workers, their families and the city at-large."