Restoration complete: 3rd Street Tunnel reopened in entirety

August 29, 2021
3rd Street Tunnel

Tonight, DC Water and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) plan to reopen the 3rd Street Tunnel and I-395 roadway at 11 pm on Sunday, August 29, well ahead of the Monday morning rush hour. The announcement comes after the pair of agencies completed seven days of investigation, repair and restoration.

The tunnel closure began in the early hours of Monday, August 23, when a broken water main flooded the roadway. DC Water first isolated the water main break to stop the flow of water into the tunnel and then restored water service to all customers. Upon identifying the exact location of the break, crews repaired the water main.

Next, crews spent several days assessing damage, backfilling voids caused by the force of the water, and performing concrete and pavement repairs. Tonight, both DDOT and DC Water walked through the tunnel for a final inspection before reopening the roadway.

“We thank you for your patience,” commented David L. Gadis, DC Water’s CEO and General Manager. “This has truly been a collaborative effort. Numerous agencies responded initially, and several have worked hand-in-hand as we diagnosed problems and planned and executed repairs this past week. DDOT inspectors were with us, approving repairs as we proceeded, which sped up the process and created a new model of agency coordination. We learned some valuable lessons that we will carry forward.”

“I am incredibly proud of the hard work that the DDOT team has done over the last six days in lock step with DC Water, our colleagues at DC Homeland Security Agency and the Metropolitan Police Department,” said Acting DDOT Director Everett Lott. “This water main break and the subsequent tunnel closure reminds us why Mayor Bowser’s commitment to strengthening our infrastructure is critical to the safety of our city and our region.”

Latest News

Map of Clara Barton Parkway near 495 with lane closures marked and site of incident damage

DC Water and its engineers will conduct an emergency inspection of a 78-inch sewer pipe located next to the Clara Barton Parkway. This follows an incident where a contractor working in the area ...

Picture inside Washington Aqueduct of pipes and tanks

It’s that time of year, when you start your spring cleaning and DC Water does too! Beginning on March 24 through May 4, we’ll be disinfecting our 1300 miles of water lines. It’s part of routine ...

sinkhole on exit to South Dakota Avenue Northeast

DC Water crews are investigating a sinkhole located at the exit to South Dakota Avenue Northeast inbound from New York Avenue/Route 50. Due to the instability of the road, the exit is closed, and ...

Upcoming Meeting

Board of Directors Meeting

April 24, 2023

Monday 9:00 AM

Announcement

Piney Branch
DC Water Clean Rivers initiative gains approval for construction of Piney Branch Tunnel Project

DC Water’s Piney Branch Tunnel Project is moving ahead with construction, the next phase of the Authority’s Clean Rivers

Latest Blog Post
A helicopter lowers a drill rig to workers on the Potomac River.
DC Water begins drilling in Potomac River to explore options to rehab underwater sewer line
When one of your major sewer lines runs through the Potomac River, a backhoe and trencher won't do. That's why we've got helicopters carrying a 14-ton drill and workers suspended midair over the Potomac.
Upcoming Meeting
Date
April 9, 2025
Wednesday, 9:30 AM