O and P Streets: The Tale of Two Utility Lines

The Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) updated the community on the rehabilitation and . The commissioners noted that the project seems to be rapidly expanding in size. What was supposed to proceed at the pace of two blocks at a time is quickly growing to four blocks under construction at once.

The reason? According to Commissioners, DC Water is quickly working to install new water mains and is getting ahead of Washington Gas.

Commissioners said Washington Gas stopped work on installing new gas lines along the massive construction project on O and P Streets. The ANC advocated to have the utility company’s permit for installing outside meters pulled citing historic preservation agreements to protect the front facades of Georgetown homes.

Washington Gas has been putting in meters that “look like something you’d see on an oilfield” said Commissioner Ron Lewis. The ANC advises neighbors to tell any contractors trying to install exterior meter not to do so.

Once the outside permits were pulled, according to the ANC, Washington Gas stopped installing gas lines. Previously, the utility company had been working in conjunction with DC Water to minimize the construction area at any give time.

Should work not proceed on the gas lines soon, the exposed DC Water lines may need to be covered and then later dug up again so the gas lines can go in. When no representative from the utility company showed at the meeting, commissioners noted for the record that they were  “very disappointed” with Washington Gas.

The construction woes are also leading to serious parking constraints. To address the parking problems, the ANC asked the District Department of Transportation for temporary “Zone 2 Permit Only” parking signs in streets affected by the construction. Residents should look gratefully for these signs in the near future.

In addition to utility problems and parking constraints, there have been issues with the G2 bus, which uses the neighborhood streets to navigate to the University. The buses require a 12-foot wide lane and have been stuck at times when construction equipment blocks one side of the street and SUVs are parked on the opposite site.

The buses may have to be detoured once work begins in the center of the streets rather than the sides.

For more updates, check www.fixingoandpstreets.com/