As the National Air & Space Museum kicks off the first phase of its massive seven-year renovation plan, it has now closed a total of nine galleries until 2022, though the museum remains open to visitors.

When the estimated $900 million project is completed, the museum will boast new entrance structures, updates or renovations to all 23 galleries, and a revamped exterior.

The exhibits on the west side of the museum newly closed to the public are “America by Air,” “Sea-Air Operations,” “Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” “Golden Age of Flight,” “World War II Aviation,” “Jet Aviation,” and “Legend, Memory, and Great War in the Air.” Some of the major artifacts that’ll be tucked away until reopening include the Douglas DC-3 and the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. VIII. The displays “Apollo to the Moon” and “Looking at Earth” closed in early December.

The virtual reality and flight simulators will be temporarily closed to the public until their eventual move to the east wing.

According to the museum, the second phase of renovations will begin sometime later this year. It will involve closing exhibition galleries on the east end of the building, essentially shutting off half of the museum at some point in this three-year span. There will be no impact on tour times. Instead of visiting the closed galleries, tours will include trips to some of the other parts of the museum and will focus on still-open main attractions like the public observatory.

The museum also announced several street and sidewalk closures, which will remain in place for three years:

Jefferson Drive, between Seventh Street and the museum’s entrance:

• The sidewalk and curb lane will be closed. Pedestrians walking along Jefferson Drive will need to use the sidewalk on the National Mall side of the street.
• The current traffic lane will continue to operate as usual. Vehicles will not be permitted to stop or stand in this lane, as it will impede traffic flow.
• Public parking will be permitted on the far-left lane, except between the hours of 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. when the center (traffic) lane will be used for deliveries.

Jefferson Drive, between the museum’s entrance and Fourth Street:

• This segment of the street will still be open, with the curb lane along the museum side (or south side) of the street only available for drop-offs. Public parking will continue to be offered along the Mall side (north side) segment of the street.

Seventh Street, between Independence Avenue and Jefferson Drive:

• The sidewalk will be closed and the curb lane will become a pedestrian walkway separated from traffic by barriers.
• The Metrobus stop that that was at the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Jefferson Drive has been moved up the National Mall to the northeast corner of the intersection.

Independence Avenue, between the museum’s entrance and Seventh Street:

• This portion of the sidewalk may be closed during evenings and Sundays for deliveries for the construction.
• The curb lane will also be closed in the evenings and on Sundays.