Traffic on the Capital Beltway and the Washington area’s other major roads and arteries was much lighter than expected Tuesday, despite several early morning traffic jams, as hundreds of thousands flocked to the Mall on foot or via Metro.
There were reports of delays of up to two hours on Interstate 66 eastbound before the Vienna Metro stop at the end of the Orange Line and on Interstate 95 northbound before the Franconia-Springfield stop at the end of the Blue Line between 6 and 7 a.m. By 7:45 a.m., traffic had dissipated somewhat as Metro parking lots filled up, said a spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Later on, though, it was relatively smooth sailing for cars. Traffic along River Road from the Beltway to Foggy Bottom was light during midafternoon, as many people walked along the sidewalks. The same was true traveling along New Hampshire Avenue and 16th Street back onto the Beltway in between the swearing-in ceremony and the inaugural parade.
There was a minor backup around 4:30 p.m. near the Seminary Road exit on 395 northbound, with cars in the right lane at stop-and-go for about a half-mile. The road was blocked to personal vehicles between the Seminary Road exit and the 14th Street Bridge, and a car — apparently out of gas — was stuck on the right shoulder just before the exit.
Otherwise, drivers had an easy drive around the Capital Beltway and major roads heading into the District, despite several accidents around the region.
At about 5:30 a.m., a Honda Civic collided with a Ford Explorer on the Clara Barton Parkway at Lock 6, according to the U.S. Park Police. The parkway was closed in both directions between the Glen Echo turnaround and Chain Bridge Road at about 7 a.m. as police investigated the crash, which led to a fatality.
After personal vehicles were banned from bridges connecting Virginia and the District for most of the day, the Key and Chain bridges opened to traffic at about 4:30 p.m. and the 14th Street Bridge was open just after 5:20 p.m., according to the Arlington County Police Department.
