News

Notes: AlexRenew wins national Tunnel Achievement Award for RiverRenew Project

By Ryan Belmore

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Wednesday, Aug. 13, the 225th day of 2025. There are 140 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 40%.

A chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Light and variable wind. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

🚨 You need to know

Overhead view of the pumping station (Image: AlexRenew).

Alexandria’s wastewater authority has earned national recognition for its massive underground infrastructure project aimed at cleaning up local waterways.

AlexRenew announced Monday that its RiverRenew program has been named the 2025 winner of the Tunnel Achievement Award, a prestigious honor recognizing innovative tunneling projects that benefit communities. The award is presented annually by TBM: Tunnel Business Magazine in partnership with the Breakthroughs in Tunneling Short Course at the University of Denver.

The RiverRenew project represents the largest infrastructure undertaking in Alexandria’s history, featuring a 2-mile-long, 12-foot-diameter tunnel running 115-160 feet beneath the city. The $615 million project was launched in response to a 2017 Virginia law mandating the remediation of combined sewer outfalls by July 1, 2025 — a deadline later extended to July 2026.

“We’re building this system for a brighter future for Alexandria and the region,” said Justin Carl, AlexRenew’s CEO, in the Tunnel Business Magazine article announcing the award. “We’re helping to achieve the vision of a fishable, swimmable Potomac River in the future.”

The tunnel system captures overflow from four historic outfalls dating back to the 1860s and channels it to AlexRenew’s treatment plant rather than allowing it to flow directly into the Potomac River, Hunting Creek and Hooffs Run. Once fully operational next year, the project is expected to prevent 130 million gallons of untreated wastewater from entering local waterways annually — a 98 percent reduction in sewer overflows. The Waterfront Tunnel completed its underground journey in March 2024, with the entire project on track for completion by the revised July 2026 deadline.

What else you should know

🆕 Former Alexandria City Councilman Mohamed “Mo” Seifeldein announced Tuesday to reporters that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, challenging five-term incumbent Rep. Don Beyer and positioning himself as a voice for economic change.

🤳 After a wedding, graduation, or significant event, wouldn’t it be nice if folks could upload their phone pictures and videos to a single gallery? Alexandria-based entrepreneur Elizabeth Kukla did just that.

🎞️ Alexandria City Public Schools will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the beloved football film “Remember the Titans” with a special celebration at Alexandria City High School on Sept. 19.

👉 Mayor Alyia Gaskins hosted her third annual back-to-school salon event on Tuesday, providing free professional hairstyling, backpacks, and food to girls living in Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority properties across the city.

ICYMI: I added a rare Publisher’s Note to that story. As someone who experienced homelessness as a child, lived in foster care, and was adopted as a teenager, events like Mayor Gaskins’ Back-to-School Salon hit differently.

I still remember the rare moments when someone made me feel like I mattered – a kind gesture, someone taking time just for me. Those moments stayed with me forever.

Watching that 6th grader see herself in the mirror after her first professional hairstyle, tears of joy streaming down her face… that’s not just about hair. That’s about dignity. That’s about someone saying, “you matter, you’re worth investing in.”

These girls will remember this day for the rest of their lives. Not just the braids or the backpacks, but the feeling of being seen, valued, and cared for.

Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can have the most significant impact. Thank you to Mayor Gaskins, Iye’s Beauty Salon, and all the sponsors who made this possible.

📈 Tuesday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Aug. 12, 2025.

  1. 2 Alexandria business owners charged in first skill games indictments
  2. Four D.C. women linked to organized retail theft ring that hit Old Town Lululemon
  3. Man charged in string of 7-Eleven robberies across Alexandria, Fairfax County
  4. Dumfries man charged in Alexandria park shooting stemming from TikTok argument
  5. Developer proposes 30+ townhomes to replace office building in Old Town

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s happening today in Alexandria, as per our newsletter and event calendar.

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

  • 219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
  • Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden: Live music at 5 p.m.
  • Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
  • Laporta’s Restaurant: Ken Kilpatrick at 6 p.m.
  • Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
  • O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
  • Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
  • The Little Theatre of Alexandria: Kinky Boots at 8 p.m.

City of Alexandria Events & Public Meetings

About the Author

  • Ryan Belmore is a journalist based in Alexandria, Virginia. He served as Publisher of ALXnow from March to October 2025. He can be reached at [email protected].