Sinkhole Damage at 14th and F Streets, NW Will Require Complex Repairs to Sewer Line

May 22, 2013

DC Water and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) crews remain on the scene of a hole that opened in the roadway at 14th and F Streets, NW and are working to determine the cause of underground concrete falling 15 feet onto a sewer line.

A DC Water sewer investigator yesterday determined that concrete from above had collapsed a large section of a 54-inch diameter brick combined sewer line. The concrete may have come from the road itself or from another utility casing.

There are a number of utilities and old trolley tracks above the collapsed sewer, making this a complex repair. This sewer is 15 feet below the road surface and was built in 1897. DC Water anticipates approximately 30 feet of the sewer will need to be excavated and repaired.

DC Water and contractor crews will work 24 hours per day until the repair is complete. DC Water will provide updates throughout the process.

DDOT will manage traffic control during the process and traffic advisories can be found at www.ddot.dc.gov on the Featured News Section. The intersection remains closed to vehicular traffic at this time.

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