Albemarle Street, from Connecticut Avenue to the Soapstone trail entrance, has closed for the final stage of DC Water’s Soapstone Valley sewer rehabilitation project. The agency was estimating a two-month closure for the dismantling and rebuilding of a more than century-old manhole, the relining of an equally old sewer pipe segment, and the reconstruction of the roadway. Now, DC Water says the project could take two to three months.
The street closure occurred around 10 a.m. Monday, September 9th.
At 30th Street, a sign alerts drivers heading toward Connecticut Avenue that the roadway is for local traffic only. On the first morning of the closure, I saw westbound drivers turning around at 30th, but some proceeded and had to turn around at the driveway to 3101 Albemarle.
The sign at Albemarle and 30th Streets is hard to miss.
Once staging is complete, DC Water says the work of removing bricks from the manhole will begin, and will continue around the clock for two weeks.
The final six weeks (or more, if the contractors find unexpected issues) of the project include relining a 325-foot sewer pipe segment, installing the new manhole structure, and restoring the street surface. The work hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Those interested in getting a closer look can still walk to the worksite. DC Water says the sidewalk on the north side of Albemarle will remain open. The sidewalk on the south side, from Shemali’s to the Soapstone trailhead, is closed for the duration of the project.
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Thomas Coleman says
They should disallow parking on one side of Brandywine St. during this time, since traffic on Brandywine will increase significantly while Albemarle is closed. Even in normal times the two-way traffic on Brandywine is very tight, which is why Albemarle is used so much. Thanks.