(Washington, DC) – DC Water is performing construction activities in four surface locations in the Bloomingdale neighborhood as part of its First Street Tunnel Project.

This important local flood control and environmental project will be under construction until March 2016, and traffic impacts will be 24 hours, 7 days per week for the duration of the project.

Surface Locations and Related Traffic Impacts
Adams Street NW, from First Street NW through the intersection with Flagler Place NW
• Construction is in progress. This portion of Adams Street will be closed to through traffic beginning the week of Monday, August 25, 2014 until February 2016. Adams Street will be open to local traffic only from First Street and 2nd Street.

V Street NW, through the intersection with First Street NW
• Construction is in progress. Beginning on or about Wednesday, September 10, 2014 until November 2014, First Street will be closed to through traffic at the intersection with V Street to allow for the construction of a diversion chamber in the center of the roadway. This portion of First Street will be open to local traffic only from U Street and W Street. An extended closure at this location may be required, and public notification will be provided.

Thomas Street NW at First Street NW
• Construction is in progress. Beginning the week of Monday, August 25, 2014 until September 2015, the 100 Block of Thomas Street and adjacent privately owned parking lot will be closed to through traffic to allow for the construction of a temporary pump station and associated structures. Thomas Street will be open to local traffic only from 2nd Street.

First Street NW, between Channing Street NW and Michigan Avenue NW
• Construction at the main mining shaft site is underway. Work will continue at the McMillan Sand Filtration Site until March 2016. First Street will remain closed to northbound/southbound traffic through November 2014. It is advised that North Capitol Street be used as an alternative route for travel on First Street.

Other Important Information
* Temporary traffic signs will be set up throughout the area to alert motorists to the traffic changes.
* Some traffic delays within the vicinity of the work zones should be anticipated.
* Sidewalk detours have been implemented to assist pedestrians.
* Noise, vibration and dust levels are all closely monitored and will continue for the duration of the project.

Project Details
The First Street Tunnel Project extends along First Street NW, beginning at the McMillan Sand Filtration Site below ground, and heading southbound to Rhode Island Avenue NW. The First Street Tunnel was accelerated as part of the Mayor’s Task Force on the Prevention of Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park to relieve street and basement flooding in these neighborhoods. DC Water has hired the Design-Build firm of Skanska-Jay-Dee to construct the tunnel and associated structures.
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About DC Water
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), is an industry leading multi-jurisdictional regional utility that provides drinking water, wastewater collection and treatment to 600,000 residential, commercial and governmental customers in the District of Columbia, 17.8 million annual visitors and also collects and treats wastewater for 1.6 million customers in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia.

DC Water’s service area covers approximately 725 square miles and the company operates the world’s largest advanced wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 370 million gallons per day and a peak capacity of 1.076 billion gallons per day.

Please visit dcwater.com/firststreettunnel for more information on the First Street Tunnel Project.