Inaugural shutdown: Bridge and road closures threaten massive gridlock
By: Kytja Weir
Examiner Staff Writer
January 8, 2009
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| No way around: The District is soon to be on lockdown as officials try to control security and handle the throngs of visitors expected for Barack Obama’s historic inauguration on Jan. 20. (AP) |
(Click image for larger version.)
The Washington area is facing unprecedented bridge and road closures Jan. 20, as officials try to control security and handle the throngs of visitors expected for Barack Obama’s historic inauguration.
Driving into the District on Inauguration Day will be a difficult if not impossible task, as federal and state officials said Wednesday they planned to prohibit cars from traveling on all bridges that cross from Virginia into the city.
They also plan to ban cars along nine miles of Interstate 395 northbound from the Capital Beltway to the 14th Street Bridge; on eastbound I-66 inside the Beltway; and both ways on the George Washington Memorial Parkway from the Beltway to the bridge.
Once in the District, the roads surrounding the Capitol building, National Mall and White House will be closed. Parking will be severely limited near the inaugural events, as large swaths of Northwest are reserved for charter bus parking.
The unprecedented closures come as officials expect millions of people to pour into the city.
“It’s like a blizzard,” said Christopher Zimmerman, an Arlington County Board member and Metro board chairman. “You’re just not going to be able to get your car out.”
Emergency vehicles, taxis, buses and even pedestrians will be able to get through on bridges and routes. And Maryland routes will provide access into D.C.
The road and bridge closures will put more pressure on those Maryland roads. The Beltway also will face more than the usual traffic, as traffic from I-395 northbound and I-66 eastbound will be diverted onto the highway.
“There will likely be congestion that day, but we think that it will be manageable,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary John Porcari.
“This is a one-time event,” MDOT spokesman Jack Cahalan said. “You have to roll with the hand you are dealt. We’’ll try to keep traffic moving along the Beltway.”
Federal and state officials are pushing public transportation — including commuter buses, Metro and trains — plus biking and even walking instead.
Metro plans to run 17 consecutive hours of rush hour service and to load as many trains as possible with eight cars, instead of six or even four.
Amtrak has joined local commuter train services Virginia Railway Express and MARC in offering special train service that day. But many of the train options already are sold out — Amtrak has sold out its trains from Virginia to D.C., officials said Wednesday, while MARC has sold out all tickets on the Penn and Camden lines. MARC still has tickets available on the Brunswick line, which runs from West Virginia.
Meanwhile, local bike advocacy groups will offer two valet stations for bicyclists to park their wheels downtown, south of the Jefferson Memorial and on 16th Street between I and K streets.
Officials realize many people will skip the inaugural events and plan to work instead. Virginia state officials encourage employers to allow their employees to work from home or have flexible hours.
