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Fourth of July in D.C.: Road closures, Metro and how to get around - The Washington Post

Several road, bridge and area closures are planned in the District for the Fourth of July.

Events for this year include the Smithsonian Folklife Festival at the National Mall, the National Independence Day Parade and A Capitol Fourth concert at the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, according to the National Park Service.

The fireworks display on Monday will start at 9:09 p.m. by the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Public access to the National Mall, where visitors will be screened, will be open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Metro warns of hour-long waits, possible station restrictions

Metro warned of limited capacity compared to previous Fourth of July holidays because of a reduced number of rail cars it has available for service. The transit agency said customers should be prepared for crowds, long lines and hour-long waits in stations near the Mall after the fireworks.

Metro encouraged riders to select destination stations on the same line as their origin to avoid crowding at transfer stations. The transit agency also suggested that riders delay their return trip after the fireworks end. Metro added that Transit Police might temporarily restrict entry to excessively crowded stations to prevent unsafe conditions on train platforms.

The agency suggested avoiding the Smithsonian station, which typically sees the largest crowds on July 4. The Mall side of the station will become “entry-only” after 9 p.m. to accommodate crowds. The area immediately surrounding the Smithsonian station is closed because of turf restoration and will not be available to view the fireworks.

To avoid lines at fare vending machines, Metro encouraged visitors to load enough money in advance for a round trip, while also urging riders to use its SmarTrip app. The agency is offering off-peak fares and free parking at its facilities.

The rail system will operate with regular weekday service on all lines, except with additional service on the Red Line. Red Line trains will operate every 12 minutes, with additional trains providing service every six minutes between the Grosvenor and Silver Spring stations. Blue, Orange and Silver line trains will operate every 20 minutes, with service about every seven minutes at downtown stations. Green and Yellow line trains will operate every 15 minutes, with service every seven or eight minutes at stations served by both lines. Metro will also extend the hours of the Arlington Cemetery station to 11 p.m., an hour later than normal.

Despite delays, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said Thursday that Metro will still be the best option for visitors celebrating the Fourth on the Mall.

“Now is the time to plan your day and make sure you can be patient as you leave," she said.

The New Carrollton, Landover, Cheverly, Minnesota Avenue and Deanwood stations are closed for a platform improvement project. Orange Line trains will only operate between Vienna and Stadium-Armory. Free express and local shuttle buses will be provided.

Metro also recommended riders use Metrobus to get to and from downtown, though detours and delays are expected due to road closures around the Mall.

Bicycles and coolers will not be allowed on Metro after 2 p.m. Monday because of the large crowds.

Here are the public entry points, open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.:

Constitution Avenue NW between 23rd Street NW and Henry Bacon Drive NW

Maine Avenue SW and Raoul Wallenberg Place SW (15th Street SW)

There will be no access to the National Mall from the George Washington Memorial Parkway, but fireworks can be viewed from the following locations:

U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and Netherlands Carillon

Columbia Island/Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove (Access to the Potomac Riverfront is possible via the bike/pedestrian tunnel that runs underneath the Boundary Channel Bridge, a.k.a. the “Humpback Bridge”)

Gravelly Point, north of Reagan National Airport

Washington Sailing Marina/Indigo Landing Restaurant at Daingerfield Island

Visitors urged to prepare coolers and backpacks for inspection if entering the screening area. Prohibited items include alcohol, grills, glass containers, balloons, personal fireworks, guns, ammunition, tents, folding chairs and coolers larger than 36 quarts (23 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches).

The Park Service also is asking visitors to refrain from outdoor recreational activities such as volleyball and recommends leaving pets at home.

You can find a full list of the day’s activities, parades and events <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/29/dc-area-fourth-of-july-guide-2022/" target=_blank>here</a>.

The <a href="https://july4thparade.com/" target=_blank>National Independence Day Parade</a>, which includes marching bands from around the country, military units, floats and balloons, sets off from Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 17th Street, where the last participants are expected to finish around 2 p.m.

The <a href="https://festival.si.edu/" target=_blank>Smithsonian Folklife Festival</a>, back in person after two years of virtual experiences, returns with programs dedicated to the United Arab Emirates and the Smithsonian’s sustainability-focused Earth Optimism project. The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

<a href="https://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/" target=_blank>A Capitol Fourth</a>, the concert performed on the Capitol’s West Lawn, is open to the public. Hosted by country singer Mickey Guyton, this year’s concert includes performances by Yolanda Adams, Gloria Gaynor and Keb’ Mo', accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra and the U.S. Army Band (“Pershing’s Own”). The concert runs from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is broadcast live on PBS.

<a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalmall4th/index.htm" target=_blank>Fireworks</a> are scheduled to begin at 9:09 p.m. Fireworks are launched from the sides of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool.

The following road closures will begin at 4 a.m. July 4 and will last until approximately midnight, officials said:

Inbound Case Bridge ramp to 12th Street tunnel

Jefferson Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, SW

Madison Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, NW

Independence Avenue from 14th Street to Ohio Drive, SW

C Street from 21st to Virginia Avenue, NW

E Street from 20th to 17th Street, NW (eastbound lanes only)

10th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

12th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

15th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

17th Street from New York Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

18th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

19th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

20th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

21st Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

23rd Street from Virginia Avenue to Memorial Bridge

Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 23rd Street, NW

Virginia Avenue from Constitution Avenue, NW to 24th Street, NW

Maine Avenue from I-395 W/B to Independence Avenue, SW

Southbound Potomac River Freeway exits to Independence Avenue, Maine Avenue, and E Street, NW

Theodore Roosevelt Bridge ramp to Constitution Avenue, NW

Theodore Roosevelt Bridge ramp to Ohio Drive, NW

Eastbound E Street Expressway ramp to E Street, NW

E Street Expressway ramp from the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge

Southbound Rock Creek Parkway will be closed at Virginia Avenue, NW

Henry Bacon Drive from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW

Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue to the Ohio Drive Bridge

Parkway Drive from Ohio Drive to the Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW

West Basin Drive from Independence Avenue to Ohio Drive, SW

The following road closures will begin at 6 a.m. July 4 and will last until approximately 10 p.m., officials said:

Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington Memorial Circle on the Virginia end, to and including Lincoln Memorial Circle in the District

Rock Creek Parkway south of Virginia Avenue NW to Lincoln Memorial Circle, including all approaches and ramps

Parkway Drive from Rock Creek Parkway to Lincoln Memorial Circle

Lincoln Memorial Circle and all approaches and ramps into and out of Lincoln Memorial Circle, including Henry Bacon Drive N, Daniel Chester French Drive SW, 23rd Street NW and 23rd Street SW

Ramp from Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge to Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW and Ohio Drive SW; all inbound traffic from the bridge will be directed to the E Street Expressway

East Basin Drive SW east of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial to Ohio Drive SW

Ramp from southbound and northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) to Memorial Avenue /Circle

Ramp from northbound Va. Route 110 to Memorial Avenue/Circle

Ramp from Va. Route 27 to Memorial Avenue/Circle

The right lane of northbound GWMP from the 14th Street Bridge to Theodore Roosevelt Island

These roads are closed from 1 p.m. July 4 until around midnight:

23rd Street from Virginia Avenue to Washington Circle, NW – no southbound traffic

3rd Street from D Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

These roads and ramps are closed starting 3 p.m. on July 4 until roughly midnight on July 5:

Eastbound U.S. Route 50 ramps to GWMP and roads in the immediate area of U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial

Southbound GWMP ramp to 14th Street Bridge (9 p.m. — 9:45 p.m. as necessary)

Northbound GWMP ramp to 14th Street Bridge (9 p.m. — 9:45 p.m. as necessary)

Park officials said the following sites will be closed or operate alternative hours over the Fourth of July as well:

The World War II Memorial will close at 4 p.m. on July 4 as part of the fireworks safety zone. Cleanup of the World War II Memorial will begin immediately following the fireworks show and the site will open as soon as the cleanup is complete

Access to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial will be limited after 8 p.m. The memorial will remain open, but the public will not be able to access the memorial from Independence Ave. after 8 p.m. Access will be available from West Basin and Ohio Drives

The Washington Monument will be closed from noon on July 3 until 9 a.m. on July 6

Paddle boats at the Tidal Basin will not operate

Big Bus Tours will not operate on the Mall on July 4

The D.C. Circulator’s National Mall route will not operate on July 4

East Potomac Golf Course will remain open for normal operating hours

East Potomac Tennis Center will close at 3 p.m.

Water taxi service to the National Mall will not operate

Check the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalmall4th/maps.htm" target=_blank>National Park Service site</a> and the <a href="https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/traffic-advisory-2022-fourth-july-celebrations" target=_blank>Metropolitan Police Department</a> for more details and a complete list of the road closures.

<i>Emily Davies and Fritz Hahn contributed to this report.</i>

Janice Kai Chen is a graphics intern at The Washington Post.

Janice Kai Chen

Hannah Dormido is a graphics reporter and cartographer at The Washington Post. 

Hannah Dormido

Gaya Gupta is a transportation reporting intern in the Metro section for The Washington Post. She is studying English and computer science with a focus on data science at Brown University.

Gaya Gupta

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Fourth of July in D.C.: Road closures, Metro and how to get around

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Janice Kai Chen

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