WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the National Park Service announced the completion of the Tidal Basin seawall ahead of schedule. The construction strengthens the shoreline around the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Memorial, and the locally loved Cherry Blossom trees.

The seawall reconstruction is being conducted in two phases. The Potomac River phase was scheduled to be completed in May 2026. According to NPS, both projects are scheduled to finish eight months ahead of schedule and $30 million under budget.

This reconstruction follows decades of flooding caused by the ground sinking over time. The original seawall was built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It had settled more than five feet since then. Flooding in the area was causing damage to trees and historic landscape.

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