Two companies are being blamed for the partial collapse of a parking garage at the Watergate complex in May, after they errantly loaded too much dirt on top of the three-story parking structure.
The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs has cited a construction company and a landscaping firm for the error.
There were about 100 vehicles parked inside the structure when a 75-by-100 foot section fell, damaging about a third of the vehicles. The collapse also broke water pipes, forcing businesses to close and parts of Virginia Avenue Northwest to shut down. Two people were hurt, as well.
The Washington Post reported that two unidentified companies were cited for “exceeding the allowable loads on top of the structure.” No word on how much dirt was on the structure.
The Watergate complex is undergoing a $125 million renovation, which was halted when the garage partially collapsed.
The citations do carry fines, but the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs would not specify the amount of those fines.
WTOP reporter Dennis Foley contributed to this report.
