03/15/2026
For those of you who got "Construction Notification" letters like this from Washington Gas, here are a couple of inaccuracies to note:
1) The statements about it being "permitted by VDOT" and "As permitted, work will typically be performed..." imply that Wash Gas holds a VDOT permit for the work. ***This is not the case.*** The permits they have applied for are still undergoing review as of this message. You can check the status of the permit applications here:
- Phase 6A (Pimmit Dr): https://permits.virginia.gov/Permit/Details/119595
- Phase 6B (Griffith, Cherri, Leonard, Fisher, Peabody): https://permits.virginia.gov/Permit/Details/119598
In our meeting with Wash Gas last Monday, the definition of "is permitted" came up and we found out that they mean that phrase "in general, this is something that VDOT will allow if you get an approved permit."
2) The statement saying that the work will be "within the roadway" is also inaccurate. Some of the work will involve trenching up the curb and in some cases, the sidewalk as well! They follow it with "in the right-of-way" which actually is accurate. There are probably many Pimmit residents that don't realize just how far the public right-of-way extends into their yards--sometimes as much 12 feet from the curb.
PHCA has obtained the construction plans for the VDOT permit applications mentioned earlier. Feel free to inspect them yourself:
- Phase 6A (Pimmit Dr): https://bit.ly/phase6a-plans-2025
- Phase 6B (Griffith, Cherri, Leonard, Fisher, Peabody): https://bit.ly/phase6b-plans-2025
PHCA has drafted a follow-up to point out these inaccuracies to Washington Gas and their communications representatives, Commonwealth Consultants. It will go to the eight people we met with at Wash Gas (which include the three people who signed the letter), Supervisor Bierman, and PHCA and MCA attendees at the meeting.
