(Above)  A portion of the northbound lane on the ramp from Ohio Drive Southwest to I-66 is closed near the work zone.

DC Water is advising motorists of traffic changes to remove trees as part of the Potomac River Tunnel Project. The work will take place during the week of May 27, 2025, in the park area on Ohio Drive Southwest, west of the Lincoln Memorial.

To facilitate the work, one northbound lane on the ramp from Ohio Drive to Interstate-66 (I-66) will be closed. The lane closure will begin after the morning rush hour and reopen before the evening rush hour each day. One lane will remain open, and access to I-66 will be maintained. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area.

Working in coordination with the National Park Service, DC Water will remove 17 trees necessary to prepare the site for construction of the Potomac River Tunnel. Once the project is complete the trees will be replaced. Precautions are also being taken to protect the remaining trees during construction.

At this location, DC Water will construct a facility to capture and redirect excess wastewater and stormwater into the Potomac River Tunnel. The tunnel will carry the overflow to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, where it will be treated before being released into the Potomac River.

Traffic Details

• Date: May 27 to May 30, 2025, weather permitting
• Time: Monday–Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Location: Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Northwest
• Traffic Pattern Changes and Pedestrian/Bicycle Detours:
• Traffic: Temporary lane closure during non-peak hours.
• Bicycle Trail: The trail will remain open during the tree removal work.
• Be aware of road signs directing traffic through the temporary closures.
• Plan your travel routes accordingly and anticipate potential delays. Traffic control measures will be in place to guide motorists safely through the area.
   

Project Details

The Potomac River Tunnel is the next major phase of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project. The 5.5-mile tunnel system, including diversion facilities, drop shafts, and support structures, will capture the mixture of sewage and stormwater and divert it to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. Each year, about 650 million gallons of untreated sewer overflows enter the Potomac River and, ultimately, Chesapeake Bay, releasing trash and increasing bacteria levels harmful to aquatic life.

The tunnel will reduce this volume by 93% and reduce the frequency of events from 74 to four in a year of average rainfall, ensuring compliance 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, as amended in January 2016.

For more information

Project Email: dcpotomacrivertunnel@dcwater.com

Project Website: dcwater.com/prt

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