DC Water has revised its slope stabilization plan along Canal Road Northwest to significantly reduce traffic disruptions during construction. The updated approach eliminates the need for a full-time lane closure on a major commuter artery. The revised plan comes in response to community feedback and concerns from residents and commuters about the traffic impact.

DC Water weighed several options for the project stretching from Foxhall Road to the Georgetown University entrance. The new plan will keep all four lanes open while extending the project by more than a month. Due to safety concerns, a walkway through the construction zone cannot be provided. An ADA-accessible shuttle will remain available for those who prefer not to use the detour routes.

The original plan called for closing one lane of Canal Road and keeping the remaining three lanes open with one lane being reversible for rush hour traffic. This would have allowed DC Water to work from the bottom of the slope, using heavier equipment to accelerate construction and meet the timeline required under consent decree to complete the Potomac River Tunnel Project.

Under the new plan, construction is expected to begin in late August or early September and will take place from the top of the slope. Due to the steep terrain, smaller equipment is required, along with additional safety measures to prevent rockslides and manage erosion and runoff from above. As a result, the project timeline is expected to go from about 5 months to approximately 6.5 months.

About 14,500 vehicles use Canal Road between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily, and any traffic disruption could impact M Street, Key Bridge, Whitehurst Freeway, and Chain Bridge. While normal two-way traffic will be maintained during most of the project, occasional off-peak lane closures will still be necessary for safety and equipment access.

Due to the sidewalk closure on the north side of Canal Road, pedestrians and cyclists will be detoured. The following routes are recommended for access between Foxhall Road, Georgetown, and points east:

Eastbound

• Foundry Branch Tunnel → Capital Crescent Trail → Water Street NW→34th Street
• Foundry Branch Tunnel → C & O Canal Towpath (via stairs from tunnel) →34th Street 

Westbound

• 34th Street → Water Street → Capital Crescent Trail → Foundry Branch Tunnel
• 34th Street → C & O Canal Towpath → Foundry Branch Tunnel (via stairs to tunnel) 
   

For some cyclists Reservoir Road may also be an option depending on the destination.

The revised plan balances community input and traffic flow with the need to meet the timeline for the Potomac River Tunnel project. Slope stabilization is critical to begin construction of a deep drop shaft and diversion facility which will help significantly reduce untreated sewage and stormwater entering the Potomac River—improving water quality for generations to come.

The Potomac River Tunnel is the next major phase of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project. It includes a 5.5-mile-long, 18-foot-diameter tunnel designed to capture and convey combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project is required under a 2005 federal Consent Decree entered by DC Water, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Justice and amended in 2016.

DC Water thanks the community for its engagement and patience as we move forward with this important work.

For more information and updates, visit our Potomac River Tunnel page on dcwater.com.