The closure of Woodmont Avenue between Wisconsin and Bethesda Aves for 16-22 weeks and water shutdowns of up to 8 hours at a time will be required. Despite this, the company claims the project will have minimal environmental and community impacts and refuses to pursue another location.

WSSC Water is replacing aging infrastructure in the area for safety and reliability. Three location options for a new vault were considered, and "Option 3 - Same Location" was selected despite the intensive impact on traffic and vault access in the roadway.

The following is a message to WSSC from stakeholders in the community.

We are writing to express deep concerns about the proposed large valve replacement on Woodmont Avenue that will impact at least 4 buildings of 150+ units each. While we understand the importance of maintaining infrastructure, we believe that the existing proposed plan will have significant negative consequences for our community.

First and foremost, the proposed road closure for over 3 months will greatly impact emergency response times, which could be catastrophic in the case of a medical emergency. This closure will make it difficult for emergency services vehicles to navigate through the area, causing a delay in response times.

According to a study conducted by the American Heart Association, every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation decreases the chances of survival by 7-10%. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the response time for fire departments to arrive on scene from the time of notification should be 5 minutes or less for 90% of all incidents. This is because fires can quickly spread and become uncontrollable, leading to significant damage and loss of life. Therefore, any delay in emergency response times could have serious consequences for the safety of the community.

This block has had numerous fire and EMS calls over the past year alone so we are not speaking in hypotheticals. Drive time down Wisconsin and up Woodmont to these properties is at least 5 minutes according to Google Maps. 

Furthermore, the road closure will also impact package delivery services, which is crucial in today's world of online shopping. The delay in delivery could impact businesses and individuals in the area, causing frustration and potentially lost revenue, particularly for the many, many residents that do not own vehicles. 

We know you are aware that other construction projects are already disrupting normal traffic patterns in the area, and the proposed valve replacement would only exacerbate this issue. Woodmont Avenue is a heavily trafficked road and any additional disruptions will cause significant delays and frustration for commuters in the area.

Another issue are the “short water” shutdowns of up to 8 hours. Many, many residents work from home and this is not acceptable. This could create unsanitary and inhospitable conditions for hundreds of residents.

Lastly, we have a number of residents in these buildings with limited mobility who rely on the accessibility of our building. It is crucial that our building is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and this road closure will make it much more difficult for these residents to access our building. This could potentially put the safety and wellbeing of these residents at risk.

Other concerns include but are not limited to: 

• Pests
• Criminal activity
• Impact to local building stability 
• Quick access by Law Enforcement
• Work from home noise disruption 

We urge you to reconsider this proposed plan and work with our community to find a solution that is less disruptive and more inclusive. Thank you for your attention to this matter.