Road Closures, Suspended Flights: What To Know Before Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade

WASHINGTON, DC — The nation's capital is busy this week preparing for Saturday's military parade to honor the 250th birthday of the Army and the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump, an event that could snarl traffic and disrupt travel plans across the region.

Some DC-area road closures begin Wednesday night, and flights will pause for some time Saturday night at Reagan National Airport.

Army officials estimate around 200,000 attendees for the 6 p.m. military parade, which has been designated a National Special Security Event — similar to a presidential inauguration or state funeral. That status is reserved for events that draw large crowds and potential mass protests.

It also calls for an enhanced degree of high-level coordination among D.C. officials, the FBI, Capitol Police and Washington’s National Guard contingent, with the Secret Service taking the lead.

The Army birthday celebration had already been planned for months. But earlier this spring, Trump announced his intention to transform the event, which coincides with his 79th birthday, into a massive military parade complete with 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rolling through the city streets.

A full schedule of the day's events can be found on the U.S. Army's website. Registration is required to attend the free festival and parade.

Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith predicted “major impacts to traffic” and advised attendees to arrive early and consider forgoing cars for the Metro.

“This is a significant event with a large footprint,” she said. “We're relying on the public to be an extra set of ears and eyes for us.”

Whether you're attending the parade or not, here's how the event will impact traffic and travel around the metro:

Road Closures

Virginia

• George Washington Memorial Parkway: Closed in both directions between U.S. 50 and I-395 beginning Friday, June 13 at 6 p.m. through Sunday, June 15 at 6 a.m.
• Route 27/Washington Blvd: Right lane closed in both directions beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 11. All lanes closed in both directions between US-50 and Pentagon North Parking beginning Friday, June 13 at 6 p.m. through Saturday, June 14 at 10 p.m.

District of Columbia

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from approximately 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 12, through 6 a.m. on Monday, June 16:

• C Street from 18th Street, NW to Virginia Avenue, NW
• 13th Street from C Street, SW to D Street, SW
• C Street from 14th Street, SW to 12th Street, SW

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from about 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, through 6 a.m. on Monday, June 16:

• D Street from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
• C Street from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
• Virginia Avenue from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 21st Street from E Street, NW to C Street, NW
• 20th Street from E Street, NW to Virginia Avenue, NW
• 19th Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 18th Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 14th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• Eastbound I-395 Exit 1 toward 14th Street / National Mall
• Eastbound I-395 HOV exit toward 14th Street / National Mall

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from about 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 13, through 6 a.m. on Monday, June 16:

North to South Streets:

• 23rd Street from E Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 22nd Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• Henry Bacon Drive from Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• Daniel French Drive from Lincoln Memorial Circle, SW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 21st Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 20th Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 17th Street from Pennsylvania, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 15th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• Raoul Wallenberg Place from Independence Avenue, SW to Maine Avenue, SW
• 14th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to D Street, SW
• West Basin Drive from Independence Avenue, SW to Ohio Drive, SW

East to West Streets:

• E Street from 20th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW (Eastbound lanes only)
• Lower Pennsylvania Avenue from 15th Street, NW to 14th Street, NW
• C Street from 21st Street, NW to Virginia Avenue, NW
• Virginia Avenue from 24th Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street, NW to 12th Street, NW
• Madison Drive from 15th Street, NW to 7th Street, NW
• Jefferson Drive from 15th Street, SW to 7th Street, SW
• Independence Avenue from 23rd Street, SW to 12th Street, SW
• D Street from 14th Street, SW to 12th Street, SW
• Maine Avenue from Independence Avenue, SW to East Basin Drive, SW
• Ohio Drive from East Basin Drive, SW to Independence Avenue, SW
• Rock Creek Parkway from Virginia Avenue, NW to Ohio Drive, SW
• Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW

The following highway exits, freeways, expressways and bridges will be closed to vehicle traffic from about 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 13, through 6 a.m. on Monday, June 16:

• Eastbound I-395 Exit 1 toward 14th Street / National Mall
• Eastbound I-395 HOV exit toward 14th Street / National Mall
• Eastbound I-395 Exit 3 toward 12th Street Expressway
• Eastbound E Street expressway
• Inbound TR Bridge split to Independence Avenue
• Inbound TR Bridge split to Constitution Avenue
• Northbound Potomac River Freeway exit toward E Street
• Westbound I 395 Exit 4A and 4B toward 12th Street, SW and Maine Avenue, SW
• Westbound E Street Expressway split to Southbound Potomac River Freeway
• Southbound Potomac River Freeway exit toward Independence Avenue and Maine Avenue
• Southbound Potomac River Freeway exit toward E Street
• Arlington Memorial Bridge

The following expressways will be closed to vehicle traffic from about 9 p.m. on Friday, June 13, through 6 a.m. on Monday, June 16:

• 12th Street Expressway
• 9th Street Expressway entrance from Constitution Avenue, NW

See a full list of streets that will be open to local traffic only.

According to police, all street closures and listed times are subject to change based on prevailing or unexpected conditions.

"Motorists operating in the vicinity of this event could encounter possible delays and may wish to consider alternative routes," police said in a news release. "The Metropolitan Police Department and the D.C. Department of Transportation also wish to remind motorists to proceed with caution as increased pedestrian traffic can be anticipated."

Parking

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from 6 a.m. on Monday, June 9, through 6 a.m. on Monday, June 16:

North to South Streets:

• 23rd Street from E Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 22nd Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• Henry Bacon Drive from Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• Daniel French Drive from Lincoln Memorial Circle, SW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 21st Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 20th Street from E Street, NW to Virginia Avenue, NW
• 20th Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 19th Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 18th Street from F Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 17th Street from H Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 15th Street from H Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• Raoul Wallenberg Place from Independence Avenue, SW to Maine Avenue, SW
• 14th Street from F Street, NW to D Street, SW
• 13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• 13th Street from C Street, SW to D Street, SW
• 12th Street from E Street, NW to Madison Drive, NW
• 12th Street from Jefferson Drive, SW to Maine Avenue, SW
• 11th Street from E Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• 10th Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 9th Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 7th Street from D Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

East to West Streets:

• New York Avenue from 18th Street, NW to 14th Street, NW
• G Street from 18th Street, NW to 14th Street, NW
• F Street from 18th Street, NW to 14th Street, NW
• E Street from 23rd Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
• Upper Pennsylvania Avenue from 15th to 14th Street, NW
• Pennsylvania Avenue from 18th to 7th Street, NW
• D Street from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
• C Street from 21th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
• Virginia Avenue from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street, NW to 7th Street, NW
• Madison Drive from 3rd Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
• Jefferson Drive from 3rd Street, SW to 15th Street, SW
• Independence Avenue from 23rd Street, SW to 12th Street, SW
• C Street from 14th Street, SW to 12th Street, SW
• D Street from 14th Street, SW to 7th Street, SW
• West Basin Drive from Independence Avenue, SW to Ohio Drive, SW
• Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue, SW to the Inlet Bridge

The public should expect parking restrictions along the street and should be guided by the posted emergency no-parking signage, police said. Vehicles parked in violation of the emergency no-parking signs will be ticketed and towed.

Reagan National Airport

To accommodate aircraft flyovers along the parade route and the following fireworks display, the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to suspend airline operations at Reagan Airport, affecting scheduled flights. Customers with flight reservations for the evening of June 14 should check the status of their flights directly with their airline.

For more information, visit the Reagan National Airport website.

Metro Service

Due to extensive road closures and parking restrictions, attendees are encouraged to use MetroRail service to access these events. The Metrorail system will offer normal Saturday service.

At the Smithsonian Station, due to the security perimeter for the festival on the National Mall, the mall entrance at Jefferson Drive for the Smithsonian Station will be closed. The station will still be available to customers through Independence Avenue at 12th Street Southwest.

For those heading to the National Mall for the festival, customers are advised to use other Metro stations to access the area, including L’Enfant Plaza, Federal Center SW or Archives Navy Memorial.

For those viewing the parade, customers may use Farragut West, Farragut North, Federal Triangle, and Archives Navy Memorial to access checkpoints.

Due to the parade route and security perimeter, the following Metrobuses will have detours or delays: 7A, 10A, 16A, 16C, 16E, 22A, 32, 36, 70, 79 and P6

Customers are encouraged to download the MetroPulse App for real-time information on all rail and bus services.

Marine Safety Information

A temporary security zone for the Potomac River, Anacostia River, and adjacent waters has been established within an area encompassing all waters from the 14th Street Bridge to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and the Tidal Basin. The Washington Channel will remain open to all vessel traffic. The security zone will be established from June 13 at 2 p.m. until June 14 at 10 p.m.

From 2 p.m. on Friday to 1 p.m. on Saturday, if law enforcement vessels are present, mariners may need to seek permission to enter the zone by contacting the Captain of the Port via VHF-marine band radio channel 16 (156.8 MHz) or by telephone number at (410) 576-2693.

On Saturday from 1-10 p.m., no persons or vessels will be cleared to operate within or in the immediate vicinity of this zone.

Mariners are encouraged to read and thoroughly understand the boundaries and procedures of the security zone found in the Code of Federal Regulations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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