Blasting Work Along Canal Road — Potomac River Tunnel Project
Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,
Beginning the week of July 13, 2026, as part of the Potomac River Tunnel Project led by DC Water, there will be periodic controlled underground blasts at the project’s construction site, alongside Canal Road NW (located near Entrance Six to the university). The Potomac River Tunnel is part of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project, which is helping to reduce the amount of stormwater and wastewater that overflows into the Potomac River.
Project Timeline
These blasts are anticipated to occur once every ten to fourteen days, through mid-2027, roughly between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) officers and DC Water officials will be on scene to help coordinate pedestrian and vehicular traffic during blast sessions and ensure the safety of community members and visitors throughout the course of the work. For safety, police and flaggers will stop cars, bikes and people walking nearby for about five minutes before each blast. The blast itself will only last seconds.
Community Impacts
People located in buildings within 1,000 feet of the blasting site (extending to buildings including Village A, Harbin Hall and Yates Field House) may hear the blast, but will likely not experience any perceptible shaking or other impacts. Before each blast, a five-minute warning will be issued via three long air horns, as will a one-minute warning (two long horns) and an all-clear (one long horn) following the blast. As mentioned, GUPD officers will be on site to clear the immediate area before any work is done. Trained DC Water workers will watch the underground blasting closely, and all crews will follow safety rules and required permits.
During each blast, entrance and exit access to the Southwest Quad Garage will be temporarily suspended. Additionally, traffic will be halted with road closures at the entrance of Canal Road and at the intersection of West Road and Canal Road. DC Water flaggers and GUPD officers will be stationed along Canal Road to support these closures and direct traffic. Please note that GUTS bus schedules may also experience minor delays or disruptions due to blasting operations.
Pedestrians and vehicles are not permitted in the immediate area on West Road and Canal Road during the blasting. Flaggers (flag icon) and police (star icon) will clear the area of people and vehicles.
Additional Information
The current timeline and any future updates will be posted on the project landing page. Georgetown community members can also sign up to receive alerts about this project and others from DC Water. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Planning & Facilities Management at construction@georgetown.edu. Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Lisa Belokur
Vice President for Planning & Facilities Management
Josh Bornstein
Vice President for Public Safety