Inauguration to Close Bridges and Highways

Crossing Roosevelt Bridge, looking across traffic toward Memorial Bridge.
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He said it was probably the largest operation the agency has undertaken since Sept. 11, 2001.

Also closed to personal vehicles will be the Southeast-Southwest Freeway in the District and much of George Washington Memorial Parkway, which will be closed in both directions between the Beltway and the 14th Street bridge. Reagan National Airport traffic will be diverted onto Route 1 or the southbound GW Parkway.

The HOV lanes on Interstate 95/395 will be HOV-only northbound from 4 a.m. Jan. 17 until 3 a.m. Jan. 20, when they will be open to buses only.

The Memorial Bridge will be the only designated pedestrian crossing over the Potomac. Pedestrians will be allowed on the Key and Chain bridges, but officials said Chain Bridge is not a practical option for people headed downtown. There will also be pedestrian-only routes to the Mall and the swearing-in ceremony, including the Third Street Tunnel.

Motorists coming from Maryland will have relatively few restrictions on driving into the District, not that anyone should expect a quick or easy ride. Although the 11th Street and South Capitol Street bridges will be restricted to buses and authorized vehicles, other key Anacostia River crossings, including the Sousa, Whitney Young and Benning Road bridges, will be open to all traffic.

Maryland officials said they had to balance inaugural traffic needs with those of residents who live just across the border from the District.

"We surround the District on three sides," said Maryland Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari. "If you look at radial routes, we have a significant portion of residents who live inside the Beltway. They need to get out."

He said he didn't think that personal vehicles would clog the roadways.

"Individual vehicles won't be able to get in because of the charter buses," Porcari said. "And if you are thinking of driving a single-passenger vehicle into the District, finding a parking space will be like winning the lottery."

Once in the District, drivers will find a dramatically expanded no-vehicle zone.

In addition to a wide area surrounding the White House, the Capitol and the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route, the city has added a rectangle of downtown north of the White House, another tract west of Union Station and much of Southwest for charter bus parking. Only buses, taxis, limousines, other authorized vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians will be allowed in those areas, according to city officials.

These areas include a 50-block section of downtown between 21st Street on the west, 11th Street on the east, P Street on the north and K Street on the south. Other new no-go areas include a section of downtown west of Union Station and much of the area around Washington Navy Yard and the Washington Nationals' stadium.