(Washington, DC) The Georgetown Project, the major upgrade of Georgetown's underground utility infrastructure and streetscape, will be launched at 11 am, Wednesday, October 17. A the ribbon-cutting for the Community Liaison Office at Canal Square, 1054 31st Street, NW will kick off the project. Actual construction on M Street will begin this evening (Wednesday) at 10:30 pm.
"The Georgetown Project is unprecedented in that it brings together the
city's major utilities, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the community in a unique effort to upgrade the commercial area's infrastructure and enhance its streetscape," said Dan Tangherlini, acting director of DDOT. "In addition, it will be done in a manner that minimizes the impact on the businesses and residents of Georgetown, as well as the people who work and visit there."
The project, which is a joint effort by Pepco, Verizon, Washington Gas, the DC Water and Sewer Authority and the DDOT, will involve replacement of the existing infrastructure with a system that can accommodate future requirements. This work and DDOT's streetscape work have been coordinated to minimize disruptions to residents, businesses and traffic by avoiding multiple street and sidewalk digs. Flippo Construction Co. of Forestville, MD is the general contractor.
"Georgetown will be open for business throughout this entire process,"
Tangherlini said. The majority of work will be done on weekday nights between the hours of 9:30 pm and 6 am. No work will take place on weekends or holidays.
The project is expected to take about three years and will be conducted in several phases. The first phase will begin on M Street at the north side from the Key Bridge to Potomac Street, and at the south side from Wisconsin Avenue to 27th Street. All traffic lanes on M Street will be open during morning and evening rush hours, and four of the six lanes will be closed at night in areas under construction.
As a part of The Georgetown Project, DDOT will construct new sidewalks and landscaping on portions of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue and will plant trees and install park benches. Those efforts will be coordinated to coincide with the utility work to minimize disruptions.
The project office was established to keep residents and businesses informed of the project status and respond to inquiries. Office hours are 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. For additional information about The Georgetown Project visit www.thegeorgetownproject.org or call (202) 359-9603.
