The Third Street ‘Purple Tunnel of Doom’ will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians on Inauguration Day. (Photo by Kevin Harber)
With D.C. scheduled to turn into a heavily fortified military zone on January 21 when President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are re-inaugurated, District and federal officials released yesterday the massive list of streets, tunnels, bridges and other byways that will be affected by the security planning.
In short, if you were planning on driving around town 13 days from now, don’t. Walking everywhere is the best bet, particularly if you plan on being within earshot of the National Mall.
Most Potomac River crossings and other busy access routes into the District will remain open, though traffic on several will be rerouted. Inbound traffic on the 14th Street Bridge will be diverted to the Southwest-Southeast Freeway beginning at 5:30 a.m. on January 21, while vehicles coming across the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge will be sent to the Whitehurst Freeway or Potomac River Expressway. The Arlington Memorial Bridge will be open only to pedestrians and authorized vehicles.
Other major thoroughfares will remain open to all traffic, including the following:
- Key Bridge
- Chain Bridge
- South Capitol Street Bridge
- Southeast-Southwest Freeway
- Rock Creek Parkway (holiday traffic schedule)
- Clara Barton Parkway operating under holiday schedule (two-way traffic all day)
- 11th Street Bridges
- Sousa Bridge (open to all traffic from east of the river to security checkpoint at Capitol Hill)
- East Capitol Street (roadways near RFK Stadium are primary routes for charter tour bus operators)
- Benning Road
- New York Avenue
- Woodrow Wilson Bridge
The Third Street Tunnel, sometimes known as a purple-hued hive of doom, will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians.
In downtown, stretches of 31 streets will be placed in what the United States Secret Service is terming a “vehicle restricted zone,” meaning that all drivers and passengers passing through will need to be screened by security personnel, who will be asking for proof of residence or other reasons for being inside the perimeter. The vehicle restricted zone, which will be in effect from 7 a.m. on January 20 to 7 a.m. on January 22, includes the following roads:
- South of K Street, NW from Washington Circle to 11th Street, NW
- Washington Circle from K Street, NW to 23rd Street, NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from Washington Circle to the US Capitol
- I Street, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 11th Street, NW
- H Street, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
- G Street, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
- F Street, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
- E Street, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
- Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street, NW to 2nd Street, SW
- D Street, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 1st Street, NW
- C Street, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
- Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street, NW to 2nd Street, NE
- Madison Drive, NW from 15th Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
- Jefferson Drive, SW from 15th Street, SW to 3rd Street, SW
- Independence Avenue from 23rd Street, SW to 2nd Street, SE
- C Street, SW from 7th Street, SW to 2nd Street, SW
- D Street, SW from 7th Street, SW to 2nd Street, SW
- E Street, SW from 7th Street, SW to 2nd Street, SW
- Maryland Avenue, SW from 7th Street, SW to the US Capitol
- 23rd Street from Washington Circle, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 22nd Street, NW from K Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 21st Street, NW from K Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 20th Street, NW from K Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 19th Street, NW from K Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 18th Street, NW from K Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 17th Street from K Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- Connecticut Avenue, NW from K Street, NW to H Street, NW
- 16th Street, NW from K Street, NW to H Street, NW
- Vermont Avenue, NW from K Street, NW to H Street, NW
- 15th Street from K Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 14th Street from K Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- New York Avenue, NW from 18th Street, NW to 11th Street, NW
- 13th Street, NW from K Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 12th Street from K Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 11th Street, NW from K Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 10th Street, NW from H Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 9th Street from H Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 8th Street, NW from H Street, NW to D Street, NW
- 7th Street from H Street, NW to E Street, SW
- 6th Street from H Street, NW to E Street, SW
- 5th Street from H Street, NW to D Street, NW
- 4th Street from H Street, NW to E Street, SW
- 3rd Street from Massachusetts Avenue, NW to E Street, SW
- Henry Bacon Drive, NW from the Lincoln Memorial to Constitution Avenue, NW
- Daniel French Drive, SW from the Lincoln Memorial to Independence Avenue, SW
And on the big day, the streets and avenues closest to the National Mall and U.S. Capitol will be closed to all vehicles without a law enforcement escort, including long stretches of key roadways:
- Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 18th Street, NW to the US Capitol
- I Street, NW from 18th Street, NW to 12th Street, NW
- H Street, NW from 18th Street, NW to 12th Street, NW
- G Street, NW from 18th Street, NW to 12th Street, NW
- F Street, NW from 18th Street, NW to 12th Street, NW
- E Street, NW from 18th Street, NW to 6th Street, NW
- D Street, NW from 18th Street, NW to 6th Street, NW
- C Street from 18th Street, NW to 2nd Street, NE
- Constitution Avenue from 17th Street, NW to 2nd Street, NE
- Madison Drive, NW from 15th Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
- Jefferson Drive, SW from 15th Street, SW to 3rd Street, SW
- Independence Avenue from 14th Street, SW to 2nd Street, NE
- Maryland Avenue, SW from 6th Street, SW to the US Capitol
- 17th Street from I Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- Connecticut Avenue, NW from I Street, NW to H Street, NW
- 16th Street, NW from I Street, NW to H Street, NW
- Vermont Avenue, NW from I Street, NW to H Street, NW
- 15th Street from I Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 14th Street from I Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- New York Avenue, NW from 18th Street, NW to 12th Street, NW
- 13th Street, NW from I Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 12th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 11th Street, NW from F Street, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 10th Street, NW from F Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 9th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 8th Street, NW from F Street, NW to D Street, NW
- 7th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 6th Street from F Street, NW to Maryland Avenue, SW
- 5th Street from D Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 4th Street from D Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 3rd Street from D Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
Capitol Hill will also be an effective police state, with the following stretches closing at 3 a.m. on January 21 and reopening at 5 p.m. following the conclusion of all the inaugural festivities:
- Louisiana Avenue, NE between Columbus Circle and Constitution Avenue, NW
- Delaware Avenue, NE between Columbus Circle and D Street, NE
- 1st Street between Columbus Circle and D Street, SE
- North Capitol Street between E Street, NW and Louisiana Avenue, NE
- New Jersey Avenue, NW between D Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
- D Street between New Jersey Avenue, NW and 2nd Street, NE
- 1st Street between D Street, NW and Washington Avenue, SW
- C Street, NW between 2nd Street, NW and New Jersey Avenue, NW
- 2nd Street, NW between C Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
- 2nd Street, NE between Massachusetts Avenue, NE and C Street, SE
- C Street, SE between 2nd Street, SE and 1st Street, SW
- D Street between 1st Street, SE and Washington Avenue, SW
- Washington Avenue, SW between South Capitol Street and Independence Avenue, SW
- Independence Avenue between 2nd Street, SE and 3rd Street, SW
- 3rd Street between E Street, SW and D Street, NW
- Constitution Avenue between 2nd Street, NE and 3rd Street, NW
- Maryland Avenue, NE between 1st Street, NE and 2nd Street, NE
- East Capitol Street between 1st Street, NE and 2nd Street, NE
- 2nd Street, SW between Washington Avenue, SW and E Street, SW
- C Street, SW between 3rd Street, SW and Washington Avenue, SW
- D Street, SW between 3rd Street, SW and 2nd Street, SW
- South Capitol Street between E Street, SW and D Street, SW
- I-295 South on-ramp from Washington Avenue, SW
- I-395 North off-ramp onto Washington Avenue, SW
- I-395 North off-ramp onto C Street, NW
- I-395 South on-ramp from 2nd Street, SW
- I-395 South off-ramp onto 2nd Street, SW
- I-395 North on-ramp from Washington Avenue, SW
- I-295 North off-ramp onto Washington Avenue, SW
In Virginia, the normal travel lanes of Interstate 395 will remain open in both directions all day on January 21, though the express lanes reserved for high-occupancy vehicles will be closed beginning at 9 a.m. and will re-open for southbound traffic following Obama’s inaugural address.
