DC Water is taking emergency measures with the immediate and ongoing closure of all northbound lanes of 14th Street between L Street NW and Thomas Circle, due to the imminent risk of collapse posed by an abandoned, century-old, brick-lined sewer tunnel beneath the roadway.

Work continues on the Potomac Interceptor, a section of which collapsed on January 19, along Clara Barton Parkway and the I-495 interchange and C & O Canal Historical Park causing a sanitary sewer overflow. 

A bypass system established five days after the overflow occurred continues to successfully divert wastewater around the collapse site and back into the Potomac Interceptor further downstream. 

However, late this evening a limited overflow occurred at the site but wastewater did not reach the Potomac River. An estimated 3600 gallons overflowed and was captured by site containment measures ...

DC Water and its contractors continue to make progress constructing new access points to the Potomac Interceptor, one upstream of the damaged section, and an additional entry downstream to divert more wastewater flow from the pipe. These access points will allow crews to install a bulkhead, blocking flow in the pipe upstream of the collapsed area, keeping the site as dry as possible so crews can safely remove an extensive rock dam currently blocking the pipe.