This Week - Ongoing Work - 4/29/02 through 5/3/02
Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility - South Side
Construction continues on the deck and ramps that will connect the facility to the South and West Terraces. Interior work continues including drywall finishing work and utility hook-ups.
Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility - North Side
Initial layout and framework has begun on a new, smaller, temporary receiving facility at the northeast corner of the Capitol which will be used for Senate Gallery tours and official visitors. Installation of ramps on the North and West Terraces has begun.
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 is expected to be completed in the area located just north of the South Barricade Entrance and west of the drive lanes. Building access will not be affected.
Pending the completion of other ongoing work (not related to the CVC) at the South Barricade Entrance, the two drive lanes (to the East Plaza from Independence Avenue) will be realigned west of their current alignment so that utility work can continue in the eastern portion of this zone. This realignment is expected to occur over the weekend, but may be delayed if significant rainfall occurs during the week. Pedestrian access will be maintained, but the existing temporary sidewalk on the eastern side of this zone will be shifted slightly westward and a new temporary path on the west side of the drive lanes also will be established. This will allow pedestrians to enter or exit at either side of the South Barricade Entrance.
- Senate-side Utility Line Installation -
- Excavation and utility installation work continues in the sidewalk 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. Access to the Carriageway entrance will be maintained.
- Excavation and utility installation work continues along Northeast Drive. There will be no parking on Northeast Drive until this work is completed.
- Utility work continues in the North Egg.
Construction Fencing
Installation of wood board fencing continues around the CVC project area. The fencing will receive decorative molding and will be painted white.
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.
Tree Maintenance - Tree monitoring activities will continue. Irrigation piping and canopy misting systems continue to be installed to ensure that proper moisture levels for the trees on the East Capitol Grounds are maintained during CVC construction..
Next Week - Anticipated Work - 5/6/02 through 5/10/02
Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility - South Side
Interior finish work and utility hook-ups will continue. Construction of the deck and ramps will continue, and installation of a canopy system over the facility will begin
Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility - North Side
Construction will continue on the new temporary visitor receiving facility to be located at the northeast corner of the Capitol. Construction also will continue on the ramps that will connect the facility to the North and West Terraces.
Utility Work
- House-side Utility Line Installation – Excavation and utility installation work is expected to begin in the eastern half of the zone located just north of the South Barricade Entrance, pending the completion of other work in the area not related to the CVC project. Building access will not be affected. The two drive lanes from Independence Avenue are expected to be diverted eastward during the weekend of May 4-5, but vehicular access will be maintained. A new pedestrian sidewalk will be established at the western half to this zone closer to Capitol building.
- Senate-side Utility Line Installation -
- Excavation and utility installation work will be completed in the sidewalk in an area north of the Senate Carriageway, but will continue in an adjacent area in a portion of the drive lane to the East Plaza. Traffic may be rerouted slightly, but two lanes will be maintained. Access to the Carriageway entrance will be maintained.
- Excavation and utility installation is expected to be completed along Northeast Drive. However, there will continue to be no parking on Northeast Drive until other AOC work, not related to the CVC, is completed in this area..
- Utility work continues in the North Egg.
Construction Fencing
Installation of wood board fencing around the CVC project area will continue. The fencing will receive decorative molding and will be painted white.
Tree Preservation
Tree monitoring activities will continue. Installation of irrigation piping and canopy misting systems will continue.
Other Construction Activities (not related to the CVC)
Capitol Dome
Interim maintenance work on the Capitol Dome continues. Crews erected 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 after 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.
West Front - Construction Activity Related to the Memorial Day Concert
Construction activity in support of the Memorial Day concert is planned to begin Monday, April 29, on the lower portion of the West Front lawn. AOC Capitol Grounds office is coordinating this effort. This work 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
