(Washington, DC) – As part of DC Water’s Potomac River Tunnel (PRT) Project, temporary traffic lane closures, trail detours, and parking restrictions, will be implemented to locate underground utilities along Water Street Northwest, and the Capital Crescent Trail on or about the week of October 15, 2024, weather permitting.  

The project’s contractor will perform the utility inspections to prepare the site for construction. Temporary detours are necessary to ensure the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and workers while this work is underway. Capital Crescent Trail will remain open.

DC Water will construct a diversion facility at this site, including a diversion chamber, an approach channel, a drop shaft, and other structures to direct the flows from the existing combined sewer overflows (CSO) into the tunnel.

Work will be phased to minimize impacts, and each location is estimated to take 3-5 days, pending inclement weather. Restrictions and detours will be in effect on weekdays during daytime hours only when the work is taking place. The site will be restored, and detours removed at the end of each workday. The above map gives an overview of the utility investigation locations on Water Street and the trail. 

This notice features a map and details for utility investigation work on Water Street NW. We will distribute a second notice for work on the Capital Crescent Trail. 

Water Street, NW Work (Map A)

• Time: Monday – Friday from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
• Location: 3500 block of Water St NW 
• Traffic Pattern Changes and Pedestrian Detours: 
  • One westbound lane of traffic along Water St NW will be temporarily closed.
  • Pedestrian Detours: A flagger will assist pedestrians and bicyclists through the work zone. Pedestrians and bicyclists will share a separate barrier-protected path. See the map below for additional details.
  • Parking will be restricted near work zones as noted by the purple markings on the map below. 

Important Information 

• Commuters and pedestrians are advised to follow signage and flagging personnel directing them through the temporary closures. 
• Please plan your travel routes accordingly and anticipate delays. Traffic control measures will be in place to guide motorists safely through the area.

Project Details
The Potomac River Tunnel is the next major phase of the DC Clean Rivers Project. The project consists of a large-diameter deep sewer tunnel, diversion facilities, drop shafts, and support structures to capture flows from existing CSOs along the Potomac River and convey them to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project is needed to reduce CSOs that contribute to water quality impairment of the Potomac River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay; and to comply with the 2005 Federal Consent Decree entered by DC Water, the District of Columbia, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Department of Justice, as amended in January 2016.

CSO Outfalls release overflows into the Potomac River when rainfall exceeds the system’s capacity. This impacts water quality by increasing bacteria levels, contributing to low dissolved oxygen impacting aquatic life, and releasing trash into waterways. An estimated 654 million gallons of CSOs currently enter the Potomac River in a year of average rainfall. The proposed controls are estimated to reduce the volume of CSOs to the Potomac River by 93% and reduce their frequency from approximately 74 events to four events in a year of average rainfall.

For more information 
Project Email: dcpotomacrivertunnel@dcwater.com 
Project Website: www.dcwater.com/prt
Project Hotline: 202-972-1388 
DC Water 24-hour Emergency: 202-612-3400