Columbia Pike Utility Undergrounding & Streetscape Improvements: County Line to Four Mile Run

Construction Update – November 2018

Fort Myers crews continue with completing the installation of new sanitary sewer mains. Since this work is occurring in the middle of Columbia Pike, there will be ongoing lane closures, and traffic congestion is expected. Please be safe and watch out for construction workers and pedestrians within this area.

Gas main work

Washington Gas’s contractor, Northern Pipeline (NPL), has completed the relocation of the in-street gas main and all service connections. The next step is to put this main into service and abandon the existing gas main. This work is anticipated for completion by the end of the year. All affected properties will receive notification prior to any service disruptions.

Water service disruptions

Testing continues for the new water main and the laterals that will provide service to nearby homes and businesses. Once testing is complete and the structures approved, the contractor will begin service connections to affected properties.

There will be water service disruptions as properties along this section of Columbia Pike are connected to the new water main. The water disruption at each affected property is expected to last 2 to 3 hours, but it could last longer if crews run into complications. The contractor will provide notice to affected properties 48 hours before the start of this work. The water main work and service connection tie-ins are expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Location

Columbia Pike from the Arlington/Fairfax County line to Four Mile Run (aka, the west end)

Status

Construction

Fort Myer, the County’s contractor for this project, received its Notice to Proceed on Feb. 20, 2018. Crews are beginning construction on the undergrounding phase first, moving in a west (South Jefferson Street) to east (Four Mile Run Bridge) direction.

Total project construction, including utility undergrounding and street improvements, is expected to last approximately three years.

Fort Myer will continue performing intermittent night work along Columbia Pike, as needed, when work is being performed at intersections. Nighttime work hours will be 9 pm to 7 am, Monday through Friday. Noise impacts will include back-up alerts from construction vehicles and noise from heavy vehicles and equipment (i.e. loaders, excavators, compressors, dump trucks, etc.).

The contractor has the option of Saturday work for the duration of the project. Saturday work hours are 10 am to 6 pm.

About the Project

This work is part of the Columbia Pike multimodal project that will make Columbia Pike a safer, more accessible route for all users. Arlington is transforming this main thoroughfare into a complete street that balances all modes of travel and supports high-quality, high-frequency transit service.

In addition to visible improvements to the road, extensive work will occur below the roadway – to replace aging and leak-prone water and sewer pipes and to bury existing overhead utilities underground.

Public Process

Staff provided the following project update to the Columbia Forest Civic Association in March 2018 and the Arlington Mill Civic Association in May 2018:

In May and June 2017, staff from the project team and public art gave project updates to community stakeholders: