Prepared by the Capitol Visitor Center Project Office, Architect of the Capitol, March 11, 2002

This Week - Ongoing Work - 3/11/02 through 3/15/02

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.

1. South Barricade Entrance: House-side Utility Line Installation – Excavation and utility installation work is expected to be completed late in the week in the zone located just north of the South Barricade Entrance and west of the drive lanes. Building access will not be affected.
2. North Barricade Entrance: Senate-side Utility Line Installation – Excavation and utility installation will occur in a zone near the North Barricade Entrance at Constitution Avenue. Building access will not be affected. A portion of the sidewalk near the North entrances will be restricted. Accessible and pedestrian bypasses will be clearly marked. Vehicular access and parking will not be affected by the activity in this zone.
3. Temporary Parking Lot Adjacent to New Jersey Avenue – A construction contractor is expected to begin mobilizing equipment and materials required to construct a temporary parking lot (for use during CVC construction) in a grassy area opposite Upper Senate Park.
4. Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility on South Grounds – Temporary fencing, and placement of footings and foundations on the South Grounds of the Capitol will begin to prepare the site for installation of a new Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility on the lawn just south of the House Wing.

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.

1. Tree Maintenance – Pruning, mulching, and tree monitoring activities will continue.
2. Tree Preservation on the South Lawn – Tree root pruning will be completed to preserve the integrity of the trees that are near the site of the new Temporary Receiving Facility, which will be located in the grassy area just south of the House wing.

Next Week - Anticipated Work - 3/18/02 through 3/22/02

1. South Barricade Entrance: House-side Utility Line Installation – Building access will not be affected.
2. North Barricade Entrance: Senate-side Utility Line Installation – Excavation and utility installation will continue in this zone near the North Barricade Entrance at Constitution Avenue. Building access will not be affected, but a portion of the sidewalk near the North entrances will be restricted. Accessible and pedestrian bypasses will be clearly marked. Vehicular access and parking will not be affected by the activity in this zone.
3. Temporary Parking Lot Adjacent to New Jersey Avenue – Construction of a temporary parking lot (for use during CVC construction) in a grassy area opposite Upper Senate Park is expected to begin.
4. Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility on South Grounds – Temporary fencing, and placement of footings and foundations on the South Grounds of the Capitol will continue to prepare the site for installation of a new Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility on the lawn just south of the House Wing. Work also will begin on a new 50-foot path that will connect two sidewalks at the southwest corner of Capitol Square where a new visitor information kiosk will be constructed. The path will allow electric carts access to the kiosk. The carts will be used to transport persons with disabilities from drop-off areas to the Temporary Visitor Receiving Facility.
5. Perimeter Fencing – Fencing around the perimeter of the CVC project area will begin around the North and South Eggs.

Tree Preservation

1. Tree Maintenance – Pruning, mulching and tree monitoring activities will continue.

Previous Week - 3/04/02 through 3/08/02

Utility Work

1. South Barricade Entrance: House-side Utility Line Installation – Excavation and utility installation work continued in this zone located just north of the South Barricade Entrance and west of the drive lanes. Building access was not affected.
2. North Barricade Entrance: Senate-side Utility Line Installation - Excavation and utility installation continued in this zone near the North Barricade Entrance at Constitution Avenue. Building access was not affected.

Tree Preservation

1. Tree Maintenance on New Jersey Avenue – Tree protection measures were completed in an area adjacent to the New Jersey Avenue parking lot to be constructed in Upper Senate Park.
2. Tree Maintenance on the South Grounds – Tree root pruning began on the South Grounds to protect the trees in that zone from work associated with the installation of the new Temporary Receiving Facility that will be located on the lawn just south of the House wing.

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