DC Water’s latest tunnel boring machine (TBM) arrived in Bloomingdale and is ready to go to work to help alleviate flooding in the Bloomingdale/LeDroit Park neighborhoods. This TBM will mine the First Street Tunnel, a 2,700 foot tunnel under First Street, NW. It will eventually be connected to the 13.1 mile long Anacostia River Tunnel. Altogether, the Anacostia River Tunnel is the largest construction project in the District since the Metro system was built!

Join us for a blessing of the workers and the TBM, as DC Water staff and guests celebrate this newest member of the TBM fleet. This is part of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project to significantly reduce combined sewer overflows in the District for improved water quality. Find out the name of this TBM, learn about the innovative “ground-freezing” technology and see the TBM above ground for the last time before it goes to work to provide relief in the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods.

Visuals include giant tunnel boring machine and a christening of the TBM with DC tap water. Also view the 100-foot deep shaft into which the TBM will be lowered.

Who:
• Muriel Bowser, Mayor, District of Columbia
• Matthew Brown, Chairman, DC Water Board of Directors and Budget Director, District of Columbia
• Teri Janine Quinn, ANC Commissioner and Bloomingdale Civic Association President
• George S. Hawkins, DC Water General Manager and CEO
• Reverend Kent Marcoux, St. George’s Episcopal Church
• Reverend Bobby L. Livingston, Mt. Bethel Baptist Church

When: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.

Where: 2507 First Street, NW (First Street near Channing Street)

Members of the media please RSVP to Pamela.Mooring@dcwater.com. There will be limited parking for live feed trucks at the site.