The construction of a large tunnel system in the District requires the cooperation and patience of many stakeholders, not the least of which are the small local businesses impacted by the project. The Northeast Boundary Tunnel (NEBT) will control sewer overflows to the Anacostia River and will reduce flooding in low-lying northwest and northeast D.C. neighborhoods. To help mitigate construction impacts, DC Water partnered with three of the District’s 26 Main Street organizations.

Our partners represent the Rhode Island Avenue NE, North Capitol, and Shaw areas and oversee small business development along the project’s busy Rhode Island Avenue construction corridor. Their intimate knowledge of small businesses closest to the project allowed DC Water to provide aid through a uniquely difficult year. The variety of innovative, targeted relief efforts to more than 75 businesses has been well-received and helpful – even instrumental – in lessening the impact of the NEBT construction.

“DC Water spent years not only designing a technically complex construction project, but developing a toolbox of community, traffic, and business mitigation measures that guided where best to route the tunnel and where to place small footprint construction sites that would minimize impacts,” said David L. Gadis, DC Water’s Chief Executive Officer and General Manager. “Along the way, we have had great cooperation from the Mayor’s Office, along with local utilities, DDOT, DMPED, DOEE, Councilmembers, ANCs, Civic Associations, churches, and the Main Streets to name just a few.”

As part of the project’s mitigation toolbox, first-of-its-kind partnerships with the local Main Streets organizations assisted businesses dealing not only with construction but also the pandemic. The resources provided by DC Water for services through the Main Streets, such as renegotiation of leases, marketing support, and, in some cases, physical store front makeovers, have benefited several businesses along the alignment.

“Our relationship with DC Water could not have come at a more critical time,” said Kyle Todd, Executive Director of Rhode Island Avenue Main Street. “Construction sites literally obscure several of our businesses, particularly in the Edgewood neighborhood. DC Water has shown a great sensitivity to the impacts of this important project, and we are pleased to help lessen those impacts with their help.”

And DC Water went a step further. A lunch program was created specifically to support local restaurants who were impacted by the NEBTs 11 different construction sites. More than 161 meals have been purchased from local businesses through the program with drinks and supplies supplied by local convenience stores nearest the sites.

“Businesses around the Bloomingdale area have suffered through some of the worst flooding in the city over the last half-century,” said Aisha Bond, Executive Director of the North Capitol Street Main Street. “So, having DC Water bring flood relief is a godsend. But also having them support our local businesses during construction has been really wonderful.”

To learn more about the NEBT and its benefits, please visit dcwater.com/NEBT.