Projects along Piney Branch Parkway

Two projects are currently underway in the Piney Branch area of Rock Creek Park. While both projects may cause temporary traffic disruptions and limit some access for park visitors, the long-term effects of the projects will benefit park users and the environment.

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Pavement Rehabilitation of Piney Branch Parkway

In collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration, the National Park Service will repair deteriorating pavement on Piney Branch Parkway from Beach Drive to 17th Street NW as well as the portion of 17th Street that is in the park. NPS will also improve pedestrian access to Rock Creek Park by constructing a new sidewalk along 17th Street NW and a crosswalk across Piney Branch Parkway with a 3-way stop.

This project will require lane closures during the demolition of the current road surface and the construction of new pavement and other roadway and pedestrian features. NPS will communicate these traffic impacts throughout the project.

The former tennis courts at Park Road NW will be the staging area for the construction equipment and materials of this project.

 

Piney Branch Tunnel

As part of the larger DC Clean Rivers Project, DC Water is constructing the Piney Branch Tunnel. Once completed, this storage tunnel will capture up to 4.2 million gallons of sewage and stormwater during each heavy rain event. Previously, this sewage and stormwater would discharge untreated from a combined sewer overflow system into Rock Creek and the Potomac River. Instead, the tunnel will capture and store combined sewage and stormwater until it can transfer to DC Water’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant for safe treatment.

While much of the tunnel construction work will occur underground, DC Water will construct drop shafts and stage the construction work at two locations:

• along Piney Branch Parkway near 17th Street NW
• along Park Road NW, south of the bridge over Piney Branch

The project includes the construction of a temporary road between 17th Street NW and the 16th Street bridge, rerouting the roadway south of its existing alignment. This road provides room for project construction and minimizes impacts to trees and wetland areas. There will be temporary closures of Piney Branch Parkway in late March and/or early April 2026 to allow for the connection of the new temporary road. DC Water and NPS will communicate these traffic impacts throughout the project.

You can learn more and receive updates on project progress by visiting DC Water’s Piney Branch Tunnel website page.