Prepared by the Capitol Visitor Center Project Office, Architect of the Capitol, November 4, 2002

This Week - Ongoing Work - 11/4/02 through 11/8/02

The majority of CVC related construction activity is now occurring within the construction fence and the site is secured by the U.S. Capitol Police.

East Front Plaza Work (Inside the Construction Fence)

• Earth-moving activities continue at several locations across the East Plaza.
• Crews continue to pour the concrete for the guide-walls in the northern half of the site.
• Excavation of the trench for the outer foundation walls has begun on the north side of the CVC site near the southwest side of the Senate Egg. During this process, a large red “clamshell bucket” is lowered between pre-formed guide-walls and the bucket is used to excavate a narrow trench to an approximate depth of 70 feet. A muddy mixture called “slurry” is poured into the trench as soil is removed. The slurry maintains the stability of the side walls of the trench until concrete is poured. As the concrete fills the trench, the slurry is displaced, removed and reused. Once the concrete cures, a portion of the outer wall of the CVC is established. As the outer wall of the CVC is completed, excavation will continue inside the wall to a depth of approximately 50 feet. The slurry wall process, especially where it occurs adjacent to the Capitol Building, minimizes any potential disruption to the Capitol Building foundation, since the CVC walls are formed and in place before deep excavation begins.
• Steel beams are being installed in some locations around the Senate Egg to provide earth retention and facilitate excavation activities.House Side (Outside the Construction Fence)

House Side (Outside the Construction Fence)

• Stone placement around the central planter located north of the South Barricade Entrance is complete. Installation of the bollards and barriers adjacent to the planter also is complete. Paving activities around the planter and in the exit drive lane out to Independence Ave. are ongoing and are expected to be completed by the middle of the week.
• The South Door, the House Steps and the House Carriageway Door remain accessible to pedestrians throughout construction.

Senate Side (Outside the Construction Fence)

• CVC tunnel construction work continues along the east side of New Jersey Avenue NW between Constitution Avenue and C Street. The east sidewalk in this location will continue to be closed, but the west sidewalk is accessible. The street will continue to be restricted to one lane and one way traffic traveling southbound.
• The North Door, the Senate Steps and the Senate Carriageway Door remain accessible to pedestrians throughout construction.

Next Week - Anticipated Work - 11/11/02 through 11/15/02

East Front Plaza Work (Inside the Construction Fence)

• Site excavation will continue in locations throughout the East Plaza.
• Construction of guide-walls and slurry walls along the perimeter of the project footprint will continue.

House Side (Outside the Construction Fence)

• Perimeter security work at the South Barricade entrance is expected to be complete. Minor finishing work may occur in some locations within this zone.
• Southeast Drive is fully accessible to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Senate Side (Outside the Construction Fence)

• Work will continue along New Jersey Avenue NW for construction of the CVC service tunnel.

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

If you experience any problems with building services inside the Capitol, please contact the Capitol Building Service Center.