Lane Closure Expected to Impact Commuters from DC, Maryland, and Virginia

DC Water will begin slope stabilization work along Canal Road Northwest starting around mid-August and is needed before construction at the site for part of the Potomac River Tunnel. This essential infrastructure work will require the closure of one lane and the sidewalk on Canal Road between Foxhall Road and the entrance to Georgetown University, a key commuter route for residents of the District, Maryland, and Virginia.

The work is expected to take about six months and must be done with extreme care. DC Water will be constructing a drop shaft at the top of the slope, which has a history of instability.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) previously identified the area as a public safety concern, after repeated shallow landslides and rockfalls over the years that pose a risk to motorists and pedestrians.

Given the previously identified slope stability conditions and the aggressive schedule to construct the Potomac River Tunnel, DC Water will perform the slope stabilization in advance of significant construction for the tunnel at the top of the slope.

The stabilization process requires working slowly and in small sections to keep the area stable for the public. The work includes drilling approximately 725 steel rods into the slope and covering it with steel mesh to hold everything in place. Once complete, the area will be replanted with grass and the road and sidewalk restored to their prior condition.

The lane closure will extend about a quarter mile along Canal Road. DC Water worked closely with DDOT, the National Park Service, Georgetown University, Metro, and community stakeholders to facilitate the work and minimize the disruption to traffic as much as possible.

Traffic Impacts:

• Canal Road will be reduced from four lanes to three.
• One lane will operate as a reversible lane to accommodate peak traffic:
  • Morning (AM Peak): 
    Two lanes inbound, one lane outbound.
  • Evening (PM Peak): 
    Two lanes outbound, one lane inbound.
  • Lane operations and timing may be adjusted based on additional consultations with DDOT and stakeholders.
• At times, traffic may be reduced to two lanes (one in each direction).
• The sidewalk on the north side of Canal Road will be closed; a shuttle with ADA access will be provided.
• No construction will take place on federal holidays.
• Expect Delays. Commuters should seek alternate routes or consider using the Metro during construction.

DC Water is working with its contractor to finalize the schedule. Additional information will be announced in the coming weeks, including more details on traffic pattern changes and possible travel alternatives.

The Potomac River Tunnel Project is one of the final components of DC Water’s Clean Rivers initiative that also includes the Anacostia River Tunnel System and Northeast Boundary Tunnel. To date, the system has prevented nearly 19 billion gallons of sewage and more than 11,700 tons of trash from entering the Anacostia.

When completed, the Potomac River section will reduce the volume of sewage overflows by about 93% into the Potomac and instead of happening around 75 times a year, it might only happen four times in a typical year.

The $819 million, 5.5-mile-long Potomac River tunnel will connect to DC Water’s existing system and includes seven shafts, including the site near Georgetown University. Construction began in 2024 and is scheduled for completion by 2030. It is part of a 2005 Federal Consent Decree entered by DC Water, the District of Columbia, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the US Department of Justice, as amended in January 2016.

For more information, visit dcwater.com/PRT or follow @DCWater on X and BlueSky for updates.