Park Service to Begin Rehab of C&O Canal; Barge Departs Oct. 5

The National Park Service will begin its revitalization of the C&O Canal between 30th Street and Thomas Jefferson Street NW within weeks. According to NPS, “the revitalization process will begin with construction on Locks 3 and 4 near the Georgetown Visitor Center in October 2016. We expect the construction to last around 18 months.”

One of the first steps will be the removal of the canal boat, which will be towed up to Fletcher’s Cover and broken up. There will be a special ceremony Oct. 5 at noon to say goodbye to the old barge — “The Georgetown” — now resting between 31st and Thomas Jefferson Streets NW.

Work on Lock 3 will begin with dissembling and rebuilding the foundation and walls of the lock using original and added stone. New lock gates will be installed for Lock 3.

Repairs to Lock 4 will begin with repairs to the existing walls and repairing of mortar joints. Depending on the state of the upper and lower lock gates, they may be replaced. The last stage of construction will be paving and landscaping the area surrounding the locks.

Also, here is what NPS has to say about the neighborhood impact of the construction project.

The National Park Service and its contractors will make great efforts to minimize any negative impact of this work on the surrounding area. (See the map for the boundaries of the work area.)

— The canal will be dry from Lock 5 to Georgetown boundary during construction.

— A chain link fence will be erected around the job site to ensure safety, and all building materials and activities will remain within the fence line. There will be no public access to the fenced-in area.

— The canal towpath will be closed between Thomas Jefferson and 30th Streets NW. The towpath, pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be redirected to K and M Streets.

— Both 30th and Thomas Jefferson Streets NW will remain open to traffic for the duration of construction.

— Work will occur during regular business hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

— A construction area entrance on 30th Street NW will occupy one or two street parking spaces.

Georgetown Heritage, a nonprofit associated with the Georgetown Business Improvement District, will provide funds for a new canal boat and for programs about the canal and Georgetown history.