If you bike, drive, or walk through Georgetown, we’ve got changes starting this week around the Potomac River Tunnel construction on Water Street NW. The Capital Crescent Trail has a new temporary detour through Georgetown Waterfront Park, open now for cyclists between 33rd and Potomac streets NW. The new path helps pedestrians and cyclists safely bypass the Potomac River Tunnel construction area. While Water Street remains open for vehicles, drivers should watch out for increased bike traffic and follow posted signs.

To access the Capital Crescent Trail, pedestrians are being redirected to the riverfront path between 34th Street and Cecil Place. Detour signs are posted to help everyone find their way. As crews continue work, we’ll continue to monitor traffic and trail use for any needed changes.

Construction for the Potomac River Tunnel Project at the Georgetown Waterfront Park is expected to wrap up by 2030.

What You Need to Know

When: January 2026 – 2030 

Where: 3300 block of Water St NW, between 33rd St and Potomac St 

Pedestrian Detours: 

• Georgetown Waterfront Park: Use the path near the Potomac River between 34th St and Cecil Pl. Water Street:
• If you're walking near the construction site, cross to the north side of Water St between 33rd and Potomac streets. 

Cyclist Detours: 

• Cyclists should follow the new temporary path through Georgetown Waterfront Park between 33rd and Potomac streets. Stay alert for any changes and follow all posted detour signs. 

Drivers: 

• Water St remains open but drivers should expect more bicycle activity. Please drive carefully and share the road.

For updates, check posted signs in the area or visit the Potomac River Tunnel page on dcwater.com.

Project Details

DC Water is constructing the Potomac River Tunnel system to capture combined stormwater and sewer overflows and redirect them to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. As part of the project, an underground facility is being constructed at the Georgetown Waterfront Park site to connect the discharge pipe to the tunnel, to divert overflows from entering the river. When complete in 2030, the tunnel will reduce the amount of combined overflows to the Potomac by 93%, and the number of times this happens from about 74 to just four in a typical year, complying with a 2005 Federal Consent Decree entered by DC Water, the District of Columbia, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Department of Justice and amended in January 2016. Learn more at dcwater.com/prt.

Contact Us

Project Email: dcpotomacrivertunnel@dcwater.com

Project Hotline: 202-972-1388

DC Water 24-hour Emergency: 202-612-3400