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

DC Water crews remain on the scene of a hole that opened in the roadway at 17^thand 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:

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