Virginia Avenue Tunnel Construction Project, Version 2015

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Channel 4's live action news minicam I-Team investigation team is on the case.

Neighbors, Lawmakers Losing Faith in DDOT

Wednesday, Jan 7, 2015 • Updated at 11:58 PM EST

From protests to D.C. Council hearings, neighbors in southeast D.C. say they’re trying everything they can to get answers about the Virginia Avenue Rail Tunnel.

"It takes an army, a really dedicated army to research this,” said Maureen Cohen Harrington. She’s suing CSX and the D.C. Department of Transportation to stop the planned construction zone in her front yard, which she said could be as close as eight steps from her front door.

Virginia Avenue Tunnel

History

The tunnel was constructed in 1872 by the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad (B&P), later controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It originally served the B&P station on the present-day site of the National Gallery of Art, on the National Mall at 6th & B Street NW (today's Constitution Avenue). The tunnel was built using the cut and cover method. It was constructed of ashlar stone for the sidewalls, and brick and stone for the arches. In 1904 the tunnel was extended to its present length due to a track relocation.

Initially the tunnel served both freight and passenger service until Union Station's opening in 1908, and since that time it has been freight-only.