Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility
The existing temporary visitor receiving facility located on East Capitol Street Extension will be removed later this spring to clear the way for CVC construction. A new and more substantial Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility will be located on the South Grounds of the Capitol on a grassy area just south of the House Wing and it will remain in operation until the CVC project is completed. Visitors will arrive to the new facility from the west as the East Front Plaza is closed for construction.
This Week - Ongoing Work - 4/1/02 through 4/5/02
Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility
- Wood board fencing is being installed on the lawn just south of the House Wing to secure the site of the new Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility. Construction continues on the ramp that will connect the facility to the South Terrace. Excavation begins for a new sewer line.
Utility Work
Utility work is required in the pre-construction phase of the Capitol Visitor Center project. Utility lines will be moved in stages so that this construction work can take place at times intended to minimize disruption to traffic. Required materials are staged and will continue to be staged on the East Front grassy areas.
- South Barricade Entrance: House-side Utility Line Installation - Excavation and utility installation work will continue in the area located just north of the South Barricade Entrance and west of the drive lanes. Building access will not be affected.
- Senate-side Utility Line Installation -
- Excavation and utility installation work continue in an area near the Senate Carriageway. The Carriageway drive lane will be closed to vehicles during a portion of the spring recess, but pedestrian access to the Carriageway entrance will be maintained.
- Excavation and utility installation work continues along Delaware Avenue (near Constitution Avenue) to support the new Senate media site that will be located in the park area just west of the Senate Russell Building. 11 diagonal parking spaces on the west side of Delaware Avenue and approximately six spaces parallel to the curb on the east side of Delaware Avenue will be restricted during this work.
Temporary Parking Lot Along New Jersey Avenue NW
A temporary 58-space parking lot will be constructed in the Senate park area just west of New Jersey Avenue NW to offset the loss of some parking spaces due to CVC construction.
- Excavation continues this week to clear the way for the parking lot. Construction results in the loss of six parking spaces (four spaces are lost permanently) on the west side of New Jersey Avenue NW where the entrance to the new lot is located. Two of the spaces will be available upon completion of the lot.
Perimeter Fencing
Installation of wood board fencing around the perimeter of the CVC project area is expected to begin. The perimeter fence line encompasses both the North and South eggs out to First Street.
Tree Preservation
Trees of lasting and historic value, which have not reached the end of the their natural life span or are not sick, have been moved to new locations and are being treated to help ensure their survival. Some trees were removed to clear the way for project construction.
- Shrub Clearing - Removal of some shrubs along the eastern edge of the House and Senate eggs is necessary to clear the way for installation of the perimeter wood board fencing that will secure the construction site.
- Tree Maintenance - Pruning, mulching, and tree monitoring activities will continue. Irrigation piping is being installed to ensure that proper moisture levels for the trees are maintained during CVC construction.
Next Week - Anticipated Work - 4/8/02 through 4/12/02
Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility
- Foundation structure work is expected to be complete, but construction will continue on the ramp that will connect the facility to the South Terrace. Delivery of the modular units that will comprise the facility is expected to begin.
Utility Work
- House-side Utility Line Installation - Excavation and utility installation work will continue in the area north of the South Barricade entrance and west of the drive lanes. The House Carriageway drive lane may be closed to vehicles during this portion of the spring recess, but pedestrian access to the Carriageway entrance will be maintained.
- Senate-side Utility Line Installation -
- Excavation and utility installation work will continue in the sidewalk near the octagonal booth (north of the Senate Carriageway) and in a portion of the drive lane to the East Plaza. Traffic may be rerouted slightly, but two lanes will be maintained.
- Excavation and utility installation work will continue along Delaware Avenue (near Constitution Avenue) to support the new Senate media site that will be located in the park area just west of the Senate Russell Building. At the beginning of the week, access will be restored to those parking spaces that had been restricted due to this construction activity.
Temporary Parking Lot Adjacent to New Jersey Avenue
Construction of a temporary parking lot will continue in the Senate park area just west of New Jersey Avenue NW.
Perimeter Fencing
- Installation of wood board fencing will continue around the perimeter of the CVC project area.
Tree Preservation
- Tree Maintenance - Pruning, mulching and tree monitoring activities will continue. Irrigation piping will continue to be installed.
Previous Week - 3/25/02 through 3/29/02
Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility on South Grounds
- Foundation work continued on the lawn just south of the House Wing to prepare the site for installation of a new Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility. Construction began on the ramp that will connect the facility to the South Terrace.
Utility Work
- South Barricade Entrance: House-side Utility Line Installation - Excavation and utility installation work continued in the area just north of the South Barricade Entrance and west of the drive lanes.
- North Barricade Entrance: Senate-side Utility Line Installation - Excavation and utility installation continued in an area near the North Barricade Entrance at Constitution Avenue.
Tree Preservation
- Tree Maintenance on New Jersey Avenue - Tree protection measures were completed in an area adjacent to the parking lot to be constructed in the next few weeks in Senate park area just west of New Jersey Avenue NW.
- Tree Maintenance on East Capitol Grounds - Tree monitoring and maintenance activities continued. Installation of irrigation piping continued.
Capitol Dome
Interim maintenance work on the Capitol Dome began. Crews began to erect scaffolding around the base of the Dome (not the Dome itself) and on the West Plaza to the roof. This interim work should not be confused with the more comprehensive Dome Restoration Project, which is expected to begin following completion of the CVC project. This current activity will continue into early September 2002, but will not impede access to any building entrances. Work on the Capitol Dome is not related to the CVC project, but notice is provided here to alert Members and Staff of this activity.
If you have any questions about the Capitol Visitor Center Project, please contact Tom Fontana, CVC Project Communications Officer for the Architect of the Capitol, at (202) 228-1310, or by e-mail at tfontana@aoc.gov
