DC's Third Street Tunnel Closed After Water Leak Causes Sinkhole

WASHINGTON, DC — A sinkhole in the Third Street Tunnel in Northwest D.C., caused by a major water leak, led to significant gridlock and a shutoff of water to residents in the area, according to officials.

Officials did not provide an estimate on when the tunnel will reopen, but the tunnel's closure is expected to remain in place through Monday’s evening rush hour, the Washington Post reported.

Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Chris Geldart said at a news briefing Monday morning that crews were working to determine what happened.

“Our DDoT structural engineers have been inside the tunnel and they’re doing some initial assessments of the tunnel for structural integrity,” Geldart said.

DC Water Chief Operating Officer Kishia Powell said three water mains — two 8—inch-diameter pipes and one 30-inch-diameter pipe — run along the ceiling of the tunnel.

“We have isolated those mains to determine exactly which water main is the source of the leak,” Powell said.

DC Water is distributing water to the residential customers affected by the leak. There are approximately 368 units in the six buildings affected by the leak, the agency said in a tweet.

The agency said residents experiencing low water pressure can call DC Water’s command center at 202-612-3400.

The tunnel, which runs beneath the National Mall, is a major commuter thoroughfare into downtown Washington.