Sinkhole at 17th Street, NW, Diverts Traffic for Sewer Repairs

January 24, 2019
Sewer Repairs

DC Water crews remain on the scene of a hole that opened in the roadway at 17thand D Streets, NW. DC Water is currently continuing excavations and shoring of a trench to expose a 39” x 58” sewer that was damaged.

The repairs are expected to take close to a week and require road closures as follows:

  • 17th Street, between C and E Streets, NW; and
  • D Street, between 15th and 17th Streets, NW

A DC Water sewer investigator yesterday determined that a section of an egg-shaped 39” by 58” sewer line was crushed when concrete fell on it.
 
So far, the PEPCO lines involved have been de-energized of their 230,000 volts of electricity. There are no other utilities affected, but the repair is complex. Once the sewer damage is exposed and assessed, repairs can begin. After the repair, PEPCO will return to restore the power lines, which will be followed by the restoration of the roadway.
 
DC Water will provide updates throughout the process, which may take up to a week or more. The intersection remains closed to vehicular traffic at this time.

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  • More than one month after the last overflow into the Potomac River, DC Water is preparing to return flow in the coming days to the Potomac Interceptor and meet the mid-March target to complete the ...
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Work is nearly complete on the downstream section of the Potomac Interceptor to reinforce the pipeline with geopolymer. The concrete-like material will strengthen and restore the structural integrity of the pipe. Completion of the geopolymer lining downstream is one of the final steps to restore flow to the interceptor and finish the emergency repair.

This comes one month since the last overflow reached the Potomac River.

geopolymer downstream

As emergency repairs continue, today marks 27 days, nearly one month, with no overflow reaching the Potomac River.

Crews are making significant progress to reinforce the downstream section of pipe from the collapse site and completed 240 linear feet of geopolymer overnight. Crews are working to apply another layer of geopolymer today. The material is similar in strength to concrete and when applied restores the structural integrity of the pipe.

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April 24, 2023

Monday 9:00 AM

Announcement

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New Path for Capital Crescent Trail Opens at Georgetown Waterfront Park

DC CLEAN RIVERS – POTOMAC RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT
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.

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