The milestone was marked by a ceremonial “blessing” of Mary, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will dig the tunnel’s northern leg. The event, held at West Potomac Park, featured Mayor Muriel Bowser, who symbolically blessed the TBM with DC tap water before it begins boring beneath the Potomac River.

“The DC Clean Rivers Program plays such an important role in ensuring that we are the safe, clean and beautiful city that we are today,” said Bowser. “Whenever you make this type of investment in world-class infrastructure, that’s an investment in our collective future, it’s an investment in safe neighborhoods and clean, swimmable waterways, and it’s an investment in our position as a beautiful waterfront city."

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Once completed in 2030, the Potomac River Tunnel will cut overflow events from 74 to just four per year and reduce overflow volume by 93%.