Utility work for HQ2’s stalled second phase is continuing this month, but Amazon is still keeping mum about a construction timeline.
Several sidewalk and crosswalk closures are scheduled for the next few weeks in the area of the planned PenPlace site in Pentagon City, contractor Clark Construction said in an update to neighbors.
Utility work continues along S. Fern and S. Eads Streets. Construction activity is underway inside the fence on 12th Street S.
In the next two weeks, construction activities will be taking place in the following locations in the public right-of-way:
- S. Eads between 13th Street S and Army Navy Drive, in the center of the roadway. This will involve creating a shared bike & vehicle lane on the northbound side of Eads, as well as parking closures north of 12th Street S.
- S. Eads intersections, which will involve police presence to ensure public safety.
- S. Fern at the crosswalk of 12th Street S which will be closed to pedestrian traffic.
12th Street S crosswalk area at the intersection with S. Fern.- S. Fern sidewalk on the east side of the street which is closed to pedestrian traffic.
There will be a crane operation at the intersection of 12th Street S & S. Fern on Friday, May 31st, and this will involve flaggers and police presence.
Another crane operation will take place on S. Eads north of 12th Street on Saturday, June 8th. This will require closing the south bound drive lane and parking lanes on both sides of the street, so traffic will be restricted to a single lane. The southbound sidewalk on the west side of S. Eads Street will also be closed during that operation.
Signs of ongoing utility work are visible inside the fenced-off site for the long-awaited office complex, including the distinctive helix-shaped building. No updates are available on when construction will begin, an Amazon spokesperson said.
“We previously shared that utility work in this area would be ongoing, and the work is now underway so it can be completed in advance of Arlington County’s long-planned transportation projects in the area,” Holly Sullivan, Amazon’s vice president of worldwide economic development, told ARLnow recently.
Utility work in anticipation of HQ2’s second phase began in March. It’s the first tangible sign of progress on PenPlace since Amazon announced an indefinite delay for the project in March 2023.
Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey told ARLnow in March that she has heard no substantive updates since the Board was told that the delay would only last about a year.
“We are not hearing anything new from Amazon about Phase II,” she wrote. “The expectation still is that they will move forward with Phase II this year. I believe they are evaluating how office space is being used post-pandemic to inform what they ultimately build.”
Clark Construction plans to continue carrying out utility work from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
“We will continue to provide updates to the neighborhood on a bi-weekly basis as the project progresses to advise of future work,” the company told local residents.
