DC CLEAN RIVERS – POTOMAC RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT
Beginning on or about November 12, 2025, DC Water will begin preparing for construction on the Potomac River Tunnel on the 3300 block of Water Street NW, beneath the Whitehurst Freeway.
Construction Nov 7-10, 14-17; Additional Weekend Closures Will Also Be Necessary
For the next two weekends, beginning Friday evening and continuing through early Monday, November 7-10 and 14-17, a section of the Rock Creek Multi-use Trail near Rose Park—between P Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW— will be temporarily closed for construction.
Today, DC Water celebrated a major milestone in the Potomac River Tunnel Project with the ceremonial blessing of Mary, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will dig the northern leg of the tunnel. The event, at West Potomac Park, marked the official start of tunneling for one of the final and most ambitious phases of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Program.
In response to the ongoing federal government shutdown, DC Water is reaffirming its commitment to supporting customers facing financial hardship. DC Water offers a range of options to help reduce monthly water and sewer costs for residential customers.
The Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) has approved a two-year contract extension for Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David L. Gadis, ensuring stability in leadership.
DC Water CEO and General Manager David L. Gadis will be joined by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, DC Water Board Chair Dr. Unique N. Morris-Hughes, and other District leaders, on Monday, November 3, for the ceremonial blessing of "Mary," the massive tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will soon begin her underground journey to build part of the Potomac River Tunnel.
As part of DC Water’s slope stabilization project, one westbound lane of Canal Road NW will be closed during overnight work between Foxhall Road (Glover-Archbold Trailhead) and the Georgetown University entrance. The lane closure will be in effect Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Final TBM prepares for shipment from Germany to DC, marking a major milestone in the Clean Rivers Program
DC Water has reached a major milestone in the Potomac River Tunnel Project with the successful completion of factory acceptance testing for its final tunnel boring machine (TBM), Emily. This test confirms that Emily is ready to begin excavating the southern leg of the Potomac River Tunnel.
DC Water will be doing construction as part of a sanitary sewer rehabilitation project on Clara Barton Parkway in Maryland from Sept 8 - Oct 10, 2025, which may cause delays inbound near the I-495 Beltway interchange. One lane will be closed in the work zone to reline an 800-foot section of the sewer line, known as the Potomac Inteceptor.
Join DC Water and Wendy the Water Drop for a fun, educational pop-up event and you can grab a refreshing sip of our water. It's all part of "Imagine a Day Without Water," a national day of action highlighting the essential role water plays in our lives and the need for continued investment in water infrastructure. Stop by Franklin Park to learn, engage, and celebrate the value of water with us!
