Potomac River Tunnel Project

DC Water will be making two oversized equipment deliveries to support the Potomac River Tunnel Project. This means overnight closures on the 3500 block of Water Street NW—near the Capital Crescent Trail entrance.

The first closure will take place overnight on Tuesday, July 1, and the second on Monday, July 7, weather permitting. The work zone will be closed to traffic and parking restrictions in effect near the Aqueduct. Brief delays may be possible. The Capital Crescent Trail will remain open, and flaggers will be on-site to help guide pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers safely around the area.

The Potomac River Tunnel Project is part of the Clean Rivers initiative, a major infrastructure project to improve water quality in local waterways. At the Capital Crescent Trail site, the crane and drill rig will help build an underground facility that captures sewer overflows - a mix of rainwater and sewage - during heavy rain and redirects it to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. This will keep pollution out of the river and eventually Chesapeake Bay.

WHEN AND WHAT TO EXPECT:

Water Street NW & Crane Delivery

• Start Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025, weather permitting.
• Time: Tuesday from 8:00 p.m. to Wednesday at 6:00 a.m.
• Location: 3500 block of Water Street NW

Water Street NW & Drill Rig Delivery

• Start Date: Monday, July 7, 2025, weather permitting.
• Time: Monday from 8:00 p.m. to Tuesday at 6:00 a.m.
• Location: 3500 block of Water Street NW

TRAFFIC & PEDESTRIAN IMPACTS:

• Water Street NW will be closed to traffic in the 3500 block
• Temporary parking restrictions will be in place near the Aqueduct
• The Capital Crescent Trail will stay open, with flaggers guiding pedestrians and cyclists safely around the work zone

The Potomac River Tunnel, expected to be up and running by 2030, will reduce sewage overflows by about 93%. That means instead of happening around 75 times a year, it might only happen four times in a typical year. It’s also 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 info, visit www.dcwater.com/prt
📧 Email: dcpotomacrivertunnel@dcwater.com
📞 Project Hotline: 202-972-1388 | 24-hour Emergency: 202-612-3400