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North Austin will soon be home to a major expansion of The University of Texas’ medical, academic and research systems with the planned opening of the UT Dell Medical Center in 2030. 

The 27-acre medical complex, a collaboration with the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, will break ground this fall. The center is expected to initially include a hospital tower, outpatient facilities and emergency department, with new facilities to be added in phases through 2032. The medical complex is one piece of the recently announced 300-acre UT Dell Campus for Advanced Research off MoPac.

The facility was initially expected to rise downtown near Dell Seton Medical Center, and state lawmakers removed building restrictions on a university-owned property for the UT-MD Anderson project. However, the project’s scope led officials to select Northwest Austin instead. The university confirmed the medical center will feature 300-500 patient beds for specialized care, including potential cutting-edge clinical trials and therapies, to ensure patients won’t have to navigate multiple facilities or search outside Central Texas to address their needs.

Ascension Seton opened its new Women's Hospital on June 25 at 1201 W. 38th St., bringing the first hospital of its kind in Central Texas dedicated exclusively to women's care.

The $362 million, 178-bed tower begins accepting patients June 29.

The big picture: The hospital consolidates emergency care, labor and delivery, surgery, postpartum recovery and neonatal intensive care into one dedicated building connected to the existing Ascension Seton Medical Center.

Dell Children's neonatologists staff the NICU around the clock.

Why it matters: Labor and delivery rooms at the existing Ascension Seton Medical Center have been at capacity weekly.

The new building is designed to handle 7,500 to 8,500 births a year and nearly doubles NICU capacity from 44 to up to 84 beds, all in private rooms designed for couplet care.

Here’s what residents need to know before the upcoming Independence Day holiday:

Fireworks: Fireworks are illegal within city limits without a permit. Violations can result in a fine of up to $2,000.

The city allows sparklers, smoke devices, glow toys and trick noisemakers without a permit. Wherever legal, the city recommends keeping water nearby, lighting one at a time, never relighting and keeping children away.

Travel: July 2 is expected to be the busiest day on the road. Drivers should expect heavy traffic and prepare with routine vehicle maintenance before departing. 

Riverside Drive will close between South First Street and Lee Barton Drive starting at 9 a.m. July 4 for the Star Spangled Fest at Auditorium Shores and reopen at 10:30 p.m. 

Pets: Fireworks can be distressing for pets. AFD recommends keeping them indoors in a secure, familiar environment and leaving a television on as a distraction. 

Heat: AFD advises residents to pre-hydrate, wear light-colored loose-fitting clothing, take frequent breaks in shade and know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.