Dear Campus Parkers,
We are writing to inform you that starting on Tuesday, September 2, DC Water will begin a project to stabilize the slope of land on the north side of Canal Road near the Canal Road entrance to campus.
Stabilization of this sloped land is a critical first step in the work DC Water will be undertaking in 2026 as part of their comprehensive effort to significantly reduce untreated sewage and stormwater entering the Potomac River—improving future water quality for all District residents. To learn more about the larger DC Clean Rivers Project, please visit their landing page.
Traffic Impacts
For the duration of the slope stabilization project, all four lanes of Canal Road will remain open to traffic during weekday morning and afternoon rush hours. However, one westbound lane will be closed periodically during off-peak times (10:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), at night (8:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.), or on Saturdays (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). During the first three weeks of the project, there also may be intermittent closures of both westbound travel lanes for 15 to 20 minutes during the overnight hours to remove large trees. Please expect slow downs on Canal Road during the duration of this project.
The Canal Road entrance to campus will remain open to vehicle traffic.
The Canal Road sidewalk in the construction zone will not be accessible for the duration of the project. More details about pedestrian and cyclist impacts can be found below. The project is expected to be completed by approximately February 2026.
Sidewalk Closures/Pedestrian Impacts
Beginning approximately Monday, September 29, The sidewalk on the north side of Canal Road, west of the university entrance, will be closed and pedestrians and cyclists will be detoured. Pedestrians should enter campus via the main gates at 37th and O Streets NW, or via Prospect Street NW, west of 37th Street NW. The Foundry Branch Tunnel to Capital Crescent Trail will remain open during construction.
DC Water will provide an ADA-accessible shuttle for community members who need to travel along Canal Road. The two access points for the shuttle will be (1) just east of the Canal Road entrance to the university and (2) on Foxhall Road at 44th Street. Signage posted at each shuttle stop will provide a number to call/text to initiate a ride request. It is anticipated that the shuttle will arrive within 15-20 minutes of being alerted of a request.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this important DC Water project. If you have questions about this project, please contact construction@georgetown.edu.
Sincerely,
Planning & Facilities Management