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Multi-Year Restoration Of The First Mile Of Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Underway

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By NPT Staff - December 8th, 2016

A multi-year project to restore the first mile of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal in Washington, D.C., is underway/NPS

A multi-year task to restore the first mile of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Georgetown in Washington, D.C., is underway, with an end goal of preserving the important history and charm of the area and bringing back the beloved mule-pulled canal boat rides.

Phase one, which is expected to last 18 months, started in late November and focuses on reconstructing Lock 3 and repairing Lock 4. The area around Lock 3 will be closed for the duration of the project, and the canal will be de-watered through Georgetown. Pedestrian and bicycle detours are posted to guide visitors safely around the construction zone.

If you’re looking forward to paddling in the spring, crews at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park plan to install a temporary dike and re-water the canal upstream from the Foundry Branch waste weir to Lock 5. Although the canal cannot be re-watered to its typical depth, to ensure the safety of workers and property downstream, visitors will be able to canoe and kayak in this stretch of the canal.

For the heavy lifting of the project to begin, the European basswood tree near Lock 3 will be removed. The park worked with engineers and restoration experts to try to save the tree, but there was no way to do so. During the project, the bust of former Chief Justice William O. Douglas will be removed from the site to be cleaned and preserved, ready to return when the work on Locks 3 and 4 is finished.

For project updates, visit this site. While construction is underway, the public will be invited to provide ideas for a Comprehensive Master Plan to guide future improvements. The partnership between C & O Canal NHP and Georgetown Heritage aims to restore, revitalize, and reimagine the first mile of the canal.

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