DC Water 1st Street Tunnel Community Update -- Tuesday, 03-08-2016

From: Linda Bernhardt [mailto:Linda.Bernhardt@dcwater.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2016 12:47 PM
To: Thomas Lindberg <Thomas.Lindberg@dcwater.com>
Subject: First Street Tunnel Community Update, March 8, 2016

Greetings First Street Tunnel Stakeholders,

Below are FST community updates.

Upcoming Major Project Tasks:  SKJD will be connecting the First Street Tunnel to the near-surface structures, including the diversion chamber, drop shaft, and adit at all three Construction Staging Areas (CSAs).   

Construction Activities at the Adams Street and Flagler Place CSA:  The contractor has completed installation of the permanent concrete lining over the first 80 feet of the Adams Street adit tunnel.  The remaining 280 feet of adit tunnel will be constructed using a micro-tunnel boring machine, named Abigail. [https://www.dcwater.com/workzones/projects/first_street_tunnel/attachments/DivP_AdamsStMTBM_handout.pdf].  Abigail will intersect with the First Street Tunnel under the corner of First Street and Adams Street.   SKJD lowered Abigail into the shaft and she is being prepped to begin mining.  Mining of the micro-tunnel will be continuous beginning Thursday, March 17 through Sunday, March 27.  Work hours will be from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday; and from 8 am to 6 pm on weekends.  If ground conditions allow, SKJD will not work on Sunday, March 20 or Sunday, March 27.  Mining of the adit tunnel could be complete in as little as seven days, but again, depending on soil conditions, the operation could take 14 days.  Residents living near the Adams Street CSA will experience different noise patterns with the micro-tunnel operation.  SKJD’s surface construction activities will remain under the noise limits. 

In addition to adit construction, there are additional concrete placements for the diversion chamber in Flagler Place.  Concrete delivery trucks and other equipment will continue to use Flagler Place.  Some of the concrete pours impact parking.  Signs are posted in advance when street parking is impacted, so please pay attention to avoid having your car towed.

First and V Street and First and Thomas Street CSAs:  Some of the most intense construction activity since the project began is currently underway at both the First and V Street and the First and Thomas Street (pumping station) CSAs.  Excavation for the tunnel connections is underway, which includes work on both sides of the connection 100 feet below ground.  The most intense work occurs from inside the First Street Tunnel, but there are also equipment and workers in the adits chipping their way toward the connection point for “hole through”.  Once both sides are connected, work will continue to prepare and temporarily support the connection.  Soon after that, the permanent concrete structure will be cast-in-place at the connection point.  At the street surface, cranes are positioned to support the adit work and the movement of material and equipment in and out of the shafts.  There are also ventilation systems at the surface feeding fresh air to the workers below.

In addition to the adit and tunnel connection work deep underground, the permanent concrete near-surface diversion structures are taking shape.  In the coming months, a number of concrete placements will occur with many concrete trucks using the streets near the CSAs.

Alternative Parking Area Closing:  On Tuesday, March 31, 2016, the Alternative Parking Area located at 143 W Street will close.  For those of you who have parking tags for the 143 W Street lot, your tag will transfer to the Bryant Street Alternative Parking Area.  You need not take any action, other than to park at the Bryant Street lot effective April 1, 2016.  Please make sure your license plate number and registration are current and are on file with us by contacting shuttle services through the 24/7 Hotline.  Shuttle service from the Bryant Street APA to residents’ homes will be available.  You can still apply for an Alternative Parking Area tag.  Applications are available at the guard station at the Bryant Street lot.  Call the 24/7 Hotline at 1-844-FST-INFO (1-844-378-4636) for more information.

Next Tunnel Forum Meeting:  The next Tunnel Forum meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 24, 2016, at 7 pm.  The meeting location will be St. George’s Episcopal Church at 160 U Street, NW.  Hope to see you there!  In addition to construction updates, we will discuss restoration and landscaping of disturbed areas.

Please continue to check our web site for updated project information (http://dcwater.com/workzones/projects/first_street_tunnel/).  And, as always, feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions.  If you have a concern or complaint about ongoing construction, please call the 24/7 Hotline at 1-844-FST-INFO (1-844-378-4636). 

The FST Outreach Team

Tom Lindberg, DCCR First Street Tunnel - Public Outreach | DC Clean Rivers Project
DC Water | 5000 Overlook Avenue, SW | Washington, DC 20032 | t (202) 787-4738 
f (202) 787-4478 | Email: thomas.lindberg@dcwater.com
FST web page: http://dcwater.com/workzones/projects/first_street_tunnel/