DC Water is replacing thousands of feet of cast iron water mains in Forest Hills over the next several months. The project requires digging up streets east and west of Linnean Avenue between Albemarle and Davenport.
The work began this week.
At noon on Wednesday, a crew was cutting the pavement on Linnean between Davenport Street and Chesterfield Place. One lane of traffic could go by at a time and no parking was available. The street trees on the west side were surrounded by chain link fencing.
According to a schedule DC Water gave to ANC 3F and Council member Mary Cheh, the workers will remain on this section of Linnean at least through next week, when excavation and replacement water main installation are to begin.
By the conclusion of the project, DC Water will install approximately 12,240 linear feet of six- to 12-inch water mains. It is also offering to replace lead service lines leading to the homes with copper pipe, at no cost to the homeowners.
Some fire hydrants and valves will be replaced, as well. And the project includes restoring street and other surfaces once the excavation is done.
The project’s target completion date is March 2022, and DC Water says some work may have to be done at night and on weekends to remain on schedule.