DC Water today announces the opening of West Potomac Park Drive SW, a new road constructed as part of the Potomac River Tunnel (PRT) Project. Beginning Monday, November 18, 2024, drivers and visitors will have another option to alleviate the partial closure of Ohio Drive SW. The road provides an easy way to get around the main construction site in West Potomac Park, which will remain active until the project's completion in 2030. 

“As we work to improve water quality and reduce sewer overflow in the Potomac River, we also recognize the importance of maintaining access for traffic and the millions who visit West Potomac Park each year,” said David L. Gadis, DC Water CEO and General Manager. “This road will help minimize the impact on our community while we embark on this bold project to safeguard this vital water resource for our region.”

The opening of West Potomac Drive SW provides three new lanes of traffic, two northbound and one southbound lane. Additional safety enhancements include a shared bike and pedestrian path and a new traffic-signaled intersection at Independence Avenue SW featuring a pedestrian crossing. The road also includes new metered parking spaces for visitors.

The new road will open for traffic in two phases to allow drivers to adjust to the new intersection and traffic pattern. On November 18, the road will open with traffic restricted to right turns only. The traffic signal at the intersection of Independence Ave SW will be flashing yellow and the crosswalk and median closed. 

After one week, starting November 25, the traffic signal will be fully operational, and the intersection and road will be open for all vehicular and pedestrian traffic from Independence Ave SW.

Phase 2 Map: West Potomac Park Drive SW

Construction on the Potomac River Tunnel began in June 2024 with the closure of Ohio Drive and traffic was temporarily detoured to West Basin Drive SW. Following the project’s completion in 2030, Ohio Drive will be restored to its original route, and West Potomac Park Drive will be closed and restored to park space. 

About the Potomac River Tunnel

The Potomac River Tunnel (PRT) is the next major phase of the DC Clean Rivers Project, DC Water's ongoing program to reduce untreated stormwater and sewer overflows into the District's waterways. The project consists of a large-diameter deep sewer tunnel, diversion facilities, drop shafts, and support structures to capture overflows of wastewater along the Potomac River and convey them to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. 

The 18-foot-diameter tunnel will run deep underground beneath the Georgetown waterfront, along the edge of the National Mall and East Potomac Park, past Hains Point, and connect by gravity to the existing Anacostia River Tunnel. Construction will require two tunnel boring machines (TBMs). Starting from West Potomac Park, one TBM will mine south through mostly soft ground, and another TBM will head north to bore through rock.

The tunnel's 2030 completion date is required in the Consent Decree DC Water signed in 2005 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice, and the District of Columbia. Once the tunnel is operational, it will reduce the overflows to the Potomac River by 93 percent in an averageg year of rainfall. The overflows impair water quality by increasing water bacteria levels, which negatively impacts aquatic life and contributes to an increase in the amount of trash in waterways. An estimated 654 million gallons of untreated stormwater and sewage enter the Potomac River in a year of average rainfall. 

For More Information 

Project Email: dcpotomacrivertunnel@dcwater.com 
Project Website: dcwater.com/prt
Potomac River Tunnel Project Hotline: 202-972-1388