D.C. residents should expect road closures and changes in Metro service during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, taking place in D.C. this week through Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Washington Convention Center.

Law enforcement will set up a security perimeter around Mount Vernon Square and the convention center while the conference takes place. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested support from the D.C. National Guard to help with traffic and was granted it by the Biden administration, per NBC 4.

D.C. police anticipate “numerous impacts” on parking, traffic, public transportation and even for pedestrians. Those impacts will be particularly noticeable starting on Sunday afternoon, when street closures around the convention center will take effect, with more added early Monday morning for the whole week.

There is already no parking on streets around Mt. Vernon Square and north to O Street NW. Most of the same streets will be fully closed starting on Monday.

A written list of street closures follows below.

Drivers and pedestrians entering the closures area near the convention center might be subject to a security sweep, per D.C. police. People entering the security perimeter in cars or on foot will be asked to enter the area through specific checkpoints corresponding to their destination. See below for the full list.

Metro riders can also expect some disruptions. The Mt. Vernon Square Metrorail station, which is within the security perimeter, will be closed starting at 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12 through the system’s closing on Thursday, Dec. 15. Green Line trains will run through the station. There will be no shuttle bus service due to the wide security perimeter.

Metrobus service in the Mt. Vernon Square area will also be impacted. Starting on Saturday, Dec. 10, eight bus routes will begin detouring around the closures area. The list includes the 70, 79, 63, 64, D4, G8, and S2. Detours could last through the week.

Metro says its busETA and Trip Planner tools may not reflect delays due to the closures.

MetroAccess will not be able to drop off customers within the security perimeter. The agency says it will try to drop people off “as close as possible” if the trip is to a place inside the security perimeter.

Parking restrictions

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at 10:00 p.m. through Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at 12:01 a.m.:

• 7th Street from Massachusetts Avenue to O Street, NW
• 9th Street from H Street to O Street, NW
• 10th Street from New York Avenue to N Street, NW
• 11th Street from H Street to L Street, NW
• 12th Street from K Street to Massachusetts Avenue, NW
• 12th Street from H Street to I Street, NW
• 13th Street from H Street to I Street, NW
• H Street from 13th Street to 14th Street, NW
• K Street from 6th Street to 10th Street, NW
• Mount Vernon Place from 7th Street to 9th Street, NW
• L Street from 6th Street to 12th Street, NW
• M Street from 6th Street to 10th Street, NW
• N Street from 6th Street to 10th Street, NW
• O Street from 6th Street to 9th Street, NW
• New York Avenue from 6th Street to 14th Street, NW
• Massachusetts Avenue from 6th Street to 13th Street, NW

Street Closures

The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, at 6:00 a.m. through Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at 12:01 a.m.:

• Mount Vernon Place from 7th Street to 9th Street, NW (closed starting Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4:00 p.m.)
• 7th Street from I Street to O Street, NW
• 8th Street from N Street to O Street, NW
• 9th Street from New York Avenue to O Street, NW
• K Street from 6th Street to 7th Street, NW
• K Street from 9th Street to 10th Street, NW
• L Street from 6th Street to 10th Street, NW
• M Street from 6th Street to 10th Street, NW
• N Street from 6th Street to 10th Street, NW
• New York Avenue from 6th Street to 10th Street, NW
• Massachusetts Avenue from 9th Street to 10th Street, NW

Accessing the secure area

Drivers who need to enter the secure area around the convention center may need to undergo a security screening and present identification to law enforcement. Police are asking drivers bound for different businesses or residential buildings to use the following entrances.

Pedestrians who need to enter the secure area around the convention center may need to undergo a security screening and present identification to law enforcement. Police are asking pedestrians bound for different businesses or residential buildings to use the following entrances.