AUSTIN, Texas — Repairs to a Central Austin hillside could take three months to complete, but engineers say that work is far from beginning.

Heavy rains May 4 caused more than 300 feet of hillside to give way above Shoal Creek near Windsor Road. It washed out part of the hike and bike trail, dammed the creek and threatened a handful of homes at the top of the hill.

RELATED | Shoal Creek trail closed after severe storm damage

City engineers said Friday they plan to use piers and a retaining to stabilize the bottom of the hill and large soil nails at the top of the hill.

"It will continue to take the collaboration between the city and the residents," said Mike Kelly, Managing Engineer with the Austin Watershed Protection Department. "We are partners and neighbors in this situation. Just the physical proximity requires us to work together on this."

The good news: engineers say the hillside appears to be stable. Crews cleared tree trunks from Shoal Creek last week, but engineers told the city not to remove any other debris until the hill is stabilized. Kelly said it's still possible that a heavy rain could cause Shoal Creek to flood part of Lamar Blvd.

The trail remains on a detour indefinitely.