Road Closures For 2017 Presidential Inauguration In Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC — It will be difficult getting around this weekend in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding metro area due to the hundreds of thousands of people in town for the presidential inauguration of Donald J. Trump Friday and the related hoopla, including protests and galas. Here's a look at road closures, when they're closing and options for getting around.

Red Zone, Green Zone in DC (see another map depicting red and green zones at bottom of page)

Vehicular restrictions in D.C. will be instituted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Park Police. The largest restrictions will be within the Red and Green Vehicle Restricted Zones. While the Green Zone will be open to traffic, drivers should expect delays.

Drivers and passengers should be prepared to provide proof of residency, employment identification or a reasonable verbal justification to enter the restricted area, the D.C. mayor announced. The Red Zone is limited to authorized personnel.

Vehicles or individuals in vehicles displaying Americans with Disabilities Act or handicap identification (such as an authorized parking tag or license plate) may access the Green Zone and may park in operating parking garages. These vehicles may not park on the street in any area designated by “Emergency No Parking” signs.

Bicycles

Bicycles are not permitted inside the Red Zone beginning at 3 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20. There are no restrictions on bicycle usage in the Green Zone.

Taxis

Taxis, for-hire vehicles (such as Uber) and pedicabs are not permitted to operate inside the Red and Green Vehicle Restricted Zones.

Emergency Vehicles

Vehicles transporting individuals with a medical emergency or accessing necessary medical care may access the restricted area.

The D.C. government also notes that all street closures are subject to changes due to prevailing public safety concerns, traffic patterns that could adversely impact public safety, additions of events or changes to the schedule.

For a breakdown of street closures in Washington, D.C., by day, see below:

• Thursday, Jan. 19
• Friday, Jan. 20
• Saturday, Jan. 21
• Sunday, Jan. 22
• Monday, Jan. 23

For a breakdown of street closures in Washington, D.C., by zone and location, see below:

• Red Zone – Vehicle Restricted Zone – Jan. 18 through Jan. 23
• Green Zone – Vehicle Restricted Zone – Jan. 19 through Jan. 21
• Lincoln Memorial Event – Jan. 18 and Jan. 19
• Vehicle Restricted Zones – Jan. 19 through Jan. 22
• Capitol Hill – Jan. 19 and Jan. 20
• Washington Convention Center Event – Jan. 19 and Jan. 20
• Union Station Event - Jan. 19
• National Cathedral – Jan. 21

If you're trying to get into D.C. from Northern Virginia, the Virginia Department of Transportation and Virginia State Police notes the following Virginia vehicular restrictions:

• I-395 HOV northbound lanes will close at 3 a.m. on Friday. HOV lanes on I-395 will re-open southbound upon the conclusion of the Inaugural parade.
• HOV restrictions will be lifted on I-66 (as well as on I-395 when the lanes re-open Friday evening).
• I-395 main lanes and I-66 will be open to all traffic.
• Memorial Bridge will be open to pedestrian traffic and authorized vehicle traffic only.
• Key Bridge, Chain Bridge, Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the American Legion Bridge will be open to all traffic.
• North Washington Street at Montgomery Street (City of Alexandria) to Reagan National Airport will be open.

To avoid congestion and travel delays, residents are encouraged to use Metro, Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak for travel from Virginia into Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day.

Those needing to travel are encouraged to seek alternate means of transportation and develop a backup route. For real-time Virginia traffic information, visit 511virginia.org or download the 511 mobile app.

Those in the Northern Virginia region not attending inaugural activities should anticipate and plan for potential traffic congestion and delays. Those needing to travel are encouraged to also seek alternate means of transportation or alternate traffic routes. For the real-time Virginia traffic information, click on the VDOT 511 Website or download the free 511 app.

On Inauguration Day, Metro is opening at 4 a.m., an hour earlier than normal, and running rush hour service (with peak fares) until 9 p.m. The system will close at midnight.

Five stations near the National Mall will be closed for security reasons:

• Archives
• Mt. Vernon Square
• Federal Triangle
• Smithsonian
• Pentagon

For more information about Metro service during the Inauguration, visit WMATA's Web site.

• Also read: Getting Around DC During the Presidential Inauguration
• What Time Is The Presidential Inauguration? Full Guide And Schedule
• Wax Figure of Donald Trump Unveiled at Madame Tussauds in DC
• Controversy Swirls Around Presidential Inauguration Church Service Set for Saturday
• UPDATE: Trump Presidential Inauguration Weather: Rain in Forecast

For more information about Metro service during the Inauguration, visit WMATA's Web site.

PHOTO of inaugural parade by Lt. Cpl. Ian Bush, Department of Defense