By rosebell
Following the ceremonial blessing of TBM Mary on 3 November, DC Water marked the official start of tunneling for the Potomac River Tunnel Project.
As symbol of the District’s commitment to cleaner waterways and marking the beginning of Mary’s journey beneath the Potomac River, mayor Muriel Bowser led the ceremonial blessing with a bottle of DC tap water.
According to Bowser: “The DC Clean Rivers Program plays such an important role in ensuring that we are the safe, clean and beautiful city that we are today. Whenever you make this type of investment in world-class infrastructure, that’s an investment in our collective future, it’s an investment in safe neighbourhoods and clean, swimmable waterways, and it’s an investment in our position as a beautiful waterfront city.”
While excavation of the northern leg of the tunnel will be up to TBM Mary, TBM Emily that is scheduled to arrive before the end of the year, is due to dig the southern leg. The 6.4m-diameter Herrenknecht TBMs are named after abolitionist Mary and Emily Edmonson who attempted a daring escape from slavery via the Potomac River in 1848.
With the aim of preventing almost one billion gallons of combined sewage and stormwater overflows from entering the Potomac River in an average year of rainfall, these machines are going to construct the 8.9km Potomac River Tunnel.
DC Water CEO and general manager David Gadis said:”The ceremony celebrated not just a machine, but a movement.The Clean Rivers Program has been a game-changer for our city. We’ve watched the Anacostia River come back to life, and now, with Mary leading the way, we’re turning our focus to the Potomac. This tunnel is one of the final pieces of a legacy that will leave our rivers cleaner, our communities healthier, and our future brighter.”
