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ALEXANDRIA, VA – The question of the day was thus: Could a two-mile sewage tunnel, 12-feet wide, running 115-160 feet underneath Alexandria, be a thing of, well, beauty? Oh, yes, it can be; just ask Alexandria’s Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley.

“When you think about what it’s going to accomplish, absolutely,” she said proudly, under azure-blue skies on Sunday, as an endless stream of traffic from Reagan National Airport flew overhead.

“It’s going to keep sewage off of our streets, out of people’s homes, and out of the Potomac River.” Among the small but enthusiastic crowd of project supporters at the celebration, which took place at Oronoco Bay Park, one woman sported a “Hazel” T-shirt, in homage to the massive tunnel boring machine that carved out the tunnel.

The tunnel, in turn, is named in honor of Hazel M. Johnston, “a passionate environmental justice advocate from the 1970s until her death in 2011,” according to the Roy + Patricia Disney Family Foundation, which bestows an annual environmental justice award in her name.

Alexandria’s pollution problem

This very project will solve an incredibly, forgive us—but if you know you know—stinky problem, as we have been reporting since its inception in The Zebra.

That’s because Alexandria, at present, is one of more than 800 towns and cities across the United States that have a combined rainwater and sewage system. And when it rains as little as a quarter inch, according to RiverRenew, the torrent of water overwhelms the city’s inadequate waste-water treatment system, causing it to release raw sewage into the river and local waterways, and even sometimes—yes—onto the streets. But that will soon be a thing of the past, as the new infrastructure project is projected to reduce sewer overflows by 98 percent when it comes online next year.

“I just wanted to get some residents together, and we are really excited to talk about just how cool we think this project is, and honestly, just get together and look at the progress on a beautiful day,” Bagley continued.

Little did she know, but Bagley was talking with a sympatico reporter who spent nearly 20 previous years writing about infrastructure, and also about the fact that few Americans truly understand the need or the price tag of infrastructure. Or appreciate the fact that in virtually any town or city in America, you can turn on a water spigot and drinkable water flows out.

Or that you can just as reliably flush a commode, and if you’re not tied into a septic system, you’re probably tied into a rather sophisticated “machine” for treating that dirty water—and such machines don’t come cheap.

So yes, there is plenty to nerd out over when it comes to the RiverRenew Tunnel, which is owned by AlexRenew, the infrastructure authority managing construction of the new system.

For one thing, the tunnel system, when operational, will capture combined sewer overflows from four existing locations, known as outfalls, which were built in the 1860s. It will then direct that flow into the AlexRenew wastewater treatment plant, instead of allowing it to spill into the Potomac River, Hunting Creek, and Hooffs Run, as it currently does.

On average, in fact, Alexandria spews some 140 million gallons of untreated water into these waterways every year, as a result of some 70 combined sewer overflow events, according to AlexRenew. The RiverRenew project, however, is projected to reduce that to less than four combined overflow events each year, with less than 17 million gallons of untreated water entering the Potomac River and local waterways.

Project is best observed from Oronoco Bay Park

The best place to visually capture the massive size of the RiverRenew project is to look southward from Oronoco Bay Park, which affords a look at the massive crane and concrete works seemingly jutting out into the Potomac. On the other hand, however, most people rounding the bend from Pendleton Street in Old Town as it curves onto North Union Street have little idea that the rather generic-looking, fenced-off construction site houses one key component of the largest infrastructure project in Alexandria’s history, with a price tag of $615 million.

Located just south of Oronoco Bay, that component is the enormous, 100-foot-deep shaft (see photo), that will connect the four historic outfalls and collect the combined sewage overflows via the new tunnel.

RiverRenew wins prestigious Tunnel Achievement Award and cover story placement in Tunnel Business Magazine

On August 10, AlexRenew proudly announced that the RiverRenew Tunnel System had been awarded the 2025 Tunnel Achievement Award, which recognizes “projects that demonstrate innovation and teamwork and provide benefits to the community,” according to the magazine.

The coveted national award, granted to one project each year since 2012, comes from Tunnel Business Magazine in partnership with the “Breakthroughs in Tunneling” Short Course at the University of Denver.

In addition, the “RiverRenew Tunnel System” is examined in lengthy detail as the cover story in the August 2025 issue of the magazine. The project was recognized for “the project team’s innovative planning and design, the successful navigation of complex urban and geological challenges, and the far-reaching clean water benefits that will result,” according to the magazine.

“We’re building this system for a brighter future for Alexandria and the region,” AlexRenew CEO Justin Carl said in the Tunnel Business Magazine article. “We’re helping to achieve the vision of a fishable, swimmable Potomac River in the future.”

The Waterfront Tunnel completed its underground journey in March 2024, with the entire project on track for completion by the revised July 2026 deadline. The project also includes the installation of 2,500 feet of new pipeline near Hooffs Run and a pumping station that will keep the tunnel dry.

The $615 million project was mandated by a 2017 Virginia law requiring the remediation of combined sewer outfalls by July 1, 2025—a deadline that was eventually extended by one year. The design/build team of Traylor-Shea was awarded the $454.4 million project five and a half years ago.

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The permanent pedestrian zone near Alexandria's waterfront is expanding.

On Saturday, Alexandria City Council approved the 200 block of King Street as a permanent pedestrian-only block closed to vehicles. The only exception to the vehicle closure is a 22-foot-wide space allowing for emergency vehicle access.

The block has been part of a pilot program that would have expired at the end of September without City Council action. The first phase of the pilot ran from Nov. 22, 2024 to Jan. 3, 2025 to coincide with the holiday season. The permanent closure will start on Oct. 1.

There are already permanent pedestrian zones in the 100 block of King Street, the unit block and the Strand.

A survey with 1,842 responses found 87 percent support for the pedestrian block. In addition, 12 of 16 business owners on the block support the proposal.

According to WUSA9, City Council members acknowledged resident concerns about parking, busier weekends, noise and more. The city could look to install more permanent fixtures to improve the pedestrian use, such as platforms.

According to a memo from the city's Transportation and Environmental Services, the 200 block is a two-way street with retail and restaurant uses as well as two upper-floor residences and the Alexandria Visitor Center. The closure of the block to pedestrian use would permanently remove 17 parking spaces, including two-hour metered parking and one 15-minute space for the visitor center. City staff noted there are 13 public parking garages within a six-minute walk of the pedestrian block.

Councilmembers shared suggestions for how to address parking by removing some on-street spaces.

Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley called for encouraging public transit use and signage to better redirect people to the parking garages.

Councilmember Canek Aguirre said the city should promote locations of accessible parking for people who may have difficulty getting to the pedestrian zone from the garages.

Councilmember John Taylor Chapman encouraged discussion on a parking incentive program involving retail and restaurants.

"What we're all saying is it's had a lot of success we want it to continue to have success and thinking through the investments that are needed," said Mayor Alyia Gaskins at Saturday's meeting.

The head of an Alexandria, Virginia, public housing agency was fired after being on probation for living in one of the agency’s units.

Chief Executive Officer for the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Erik Johnson was fired Thursday, according to a statement from the ARHA Board of Commissioners.

Johnson was placed on probation last month after the housing authority learned he was living in one of its units. He was told to immediately leave the unit, a previous statement said.

Johnson told local news site ALXNow that he temporarily moved into a public housing unit in the Old Town neighborhood in July while transitioning residences. The Washington Post also reported the news of Johnson being placed on probation.

“There is a huge waiting list for these units, for people who qualify by virtue of income,” said Carter Flemming, a former board member. “So for somebody who’s the CEO of ARHA to take one of those units offline, that could have been given to somebody who really deserves and needs the housing, it’s just not right.”

In a multipage letter to the board, shared on behalf of the Alexandria City Council, Mayor Alyia Gaskins called for an investigation into Johnson’s actions and ARHA’s finances.

Flemming said in the early 2000s, there were allegations of housing staff moving friends up the line for affordable housing units. But, actions such as those “got cleaned up or stopped, if it ever happened,” she said.

“We were on a better footing, doing large redevelopment projects and building a good reputation, and this just destroyed that, basically,” Flemming said. “Because now, justifiably, the city council and all is asking a lot of questions about how this could have happened.”

The housing authority’s board, in its newest statement, said an independent investigation into Johnson’s actions remains ongoing and will help determine the board’s next steps.

In the meantime, Rickie Maddox will be serving as the acting CEO. She served as interim CEO prior to Johnson being chosen last year.

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After a nearly yearlong trial, another section of King Street in Old Town Alexandria near the waterfront will now be permanently closed to vehicle traffic.

The 100 block of King Street was already closed, and now the 200 block is open only to pedestrian traffic after a 7-0 vote over the weekend by the Alexandria City Council.

Megan Bird, who works in the area, is happy about the decision.

“I think it’s great, I know at my office we come out here a lot for lunch, out here with friends in the evening, on the weekends. I like it. I think it’s nice for business,” she said.

“It’s also good to be able to walk through. We have a lot of traffic coming through, and it’s nice to be able to not have to worry about the cars,” Bird added.

Another man who works in the area and likes having the street closed to cars is Richard, who only gave WTOP his first name.

“The way they did it, it’s more safer,” he said. “They keep the inner traffic from coming through here, because you have a whole lot of pedestrians coming through here.”

Before the city council voted unanimously Saturday to close off the area, Claire Skarda, who lives on Prince Street, pleaded with the council to stay on top of some of the issues she says the closure has created.

“There are problems that have been created with parking, problems with access to people’s homes, problems with the carnival atmosphere that’s being created,” Skarda said.

According to a city survey of people who live in the area, 87% of locals approve of the car-free zone, and 12 of 16 businesses most directly affected are also in favor.

A city council report on traffic impacts also concluded that “dedicating more space for people walking, relative to vehicles along these three blocks of King Street, is an equitable allocation of public right-of-way.”

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© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (7News) — A popular area of King Street in Alexandria, Virginia, is being closed to cars permanently.

Over the weekend, the Alexandria City Council voted to close the 200 Block of King Street to vehicular traffic.

“I believe this is a very good idea. A lot of people walk on the weekends. A lot of people," said Mario, who has been working at the Warehouse Bar and Grill for several years.

Mario said opening up the street has allowed more people to walk around Old Town, and he said it has helped local businesses.

“Oh yeah, very much. Yea. They bring a lot of people," he said.

“I think it’s easier to navigate families and strollers and stuff like that," said Scott Daley.

The Daley family from Arizona and the Miller family from Kansas tell us they like having this road closed off to cars.

"It is so beautiful and quiet, safe," said Patti Miller. "And it’s a very enjoyable afternoon without the dangers of cars. And I’ve really enjoyed it.”

"That’s actually why we came here today," said Kimberly Daley. "We’ve been in DC. We’ve been in the hustle and bustle of the big town. And we wanted to come somewhere a little quieter."

"It looks very inviting," said Mark Miller. "It’s nice to be able to see things that you like and walk back and forth across the road and enjoy the local architecture.”

On the weekends, you will often find live music here. And some residents who live nearby have raised concerns that it gets too loud.