WASA Replacing Large Transmission Main Valves With Minimal Impact in Northwest Area of the District
Water customers in some parts of Northwest Washington may experience lower than normal water pressure for about 24 hours, beginning 10 p.m. Monday, August 22 until 10 p.m. Tuesday, August 23, as work crews with the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) replace the valves on large underground water transmission mains at two intersections: Georgia and Missouri avenues NW and at 16th Street and Military Road NW. As these mains are shut down and water is rerouted from another system, reductions in water pressure may occur in an area bounded by 16th Street, Eastern, Missouri and Kansas avenues NW.
As a result of this utility work, beginning Monday, August 22 at 7 p.m., Missouri Avenue will be closed in both directions to through traffic between Georgia Avenue and 13th Street NW until repairs have been completed. Traffic will be rerouted along Madison. Also, at the same time, Military Road will be closed to east and westbound traffic between 14th and 16th Streets NW. Traffic will be detoured along the 16th Street/Military Road exchange.
The work being done at these intersections is part of WASAs $12.5 million large valve replacement program to remove defective valves throughout the city, many of which have been in the ground since the early 1900s. At 16th and Military, a 24 valve is being replaced, and at Georgia and Missouri, 30 and 48 valves are being replaced and a new 48 valve is being added.
These valves are on critical and large transmission mains, said WASA General Manager Jerry N. Johnson. It is essential to the performance and maintenance of our distribution system that we have operable valves, so we can flush the system annually and isolate parts of the system to accommodate routine and emergency repairs.
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