Guide to Inauguration Festivities in D.C. and beyond

1.  As of Monday, January 19, 2008, at 5 pm the streets surrounding the Capital will be shut down, no cars or pedestrians allowed. The perimeter stretches from Capital to 18th and Independence to I and G St. 
 
2.  On inauguration day, no one will be allowed on the National Mall until 7:00 AM. For those people planning to campout on the National Mall, they will be removed by Secret Service late Monday afternoon. 
 
3.  A soft closure (that ‘ s pedestrians, but no cars) will be permitted from K to 23rd Street . BUT, there will be checkpoints and you must be on official business to get by (i.e.  Headed to work). Some checkpoints your name will have to be on a list to get by.  You will not be permitted to loiter on the streets in those areas. 
 
4.  Expect a 3 to 4 hour commute on Metro inauguration day overall and a 25 minute wait to get onto the train once you get onto the platform (if you can get on the platform). 
 
5.  If you do not have a ticket to the inauguration, you will be restricted to the National Mall area (up to 1.5 Million people only) and 1st Street to 14th Street (the overflow area). The majority of people will not SEE anything (except for the people standing in front of them). 
 
6.  Some Metro stations will have restricted access for those people with inauguration tickets only. If you do not have a ticket, you will not be permitted to go through the security checkpoints. You should go to http://www.wmata.com/ for more information regarding Metro access and restrictions. 
 
7.  The only Metro station closed is Navy Memorial. 
 
8.  Approximately 10,000 buses are scheduled to arrive in the city starting Saturday. 
 
9.  The Interstate will be one big parking lot stretching as far north as PA and South to NC. 
 
10.  Most of the restaurants surrounding The Capital and White House will be closed or only open for private events. 
 
11.  Most of the bars and night clubs will be open 24 hours beginning Saturday. 
 
12.  Items that you can bring with you will be restricted. 
 

Street Closures and No Parking Zones

 
Access into Washington DC will be limited on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The following is a summary of routes and their status that day:

• 14th Street Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
• Roosevelt Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
• Memorial Bridge – Restricted to Pedestrians and Emergency Vehicles Only
• Key Bridge – Restricted to Mass Transit Only
• Chain Bridge – Restricted to Authorized Vehicles and Mass Transit Only, no charter buses.
• South Capitol Street Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
• Southeast/Southwest Freeway – Restricted to Emergency Vehicles Only
• Rock Creek Parkway – Open to traffic from Beach Drive to Virginia Avenue NW (Holiday traffic schedule in effect throughout the park)
• Clara Barton Parkway operating under Holiday schedule (2 way traffic all day)
• 11th Street Bridges – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
• Sousa Bridge – Open to all traffic from east of the river to security checkpoint in Capitol Hill; Barney Circle closed to all vehicles
• East Capitol Street – Open to all traffic but roadways around RFK will be filled with tour buses
• Benning Road – Open to all traffic
• New York Avenue – Open to all traffic
• 3rd Street Tunnel – Closed to all vehicular traffic and restricted to pedestrian use only.

Authorized vehicles include taxicabs and limousines with valid licenses.  

Washington, DC Vehicular Restrictions  

Vehicle Restricted Zone:   

Vehicular road closures in Washington, DC will be instituted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the US Park Police. Extensive road closures and vehicle restricted zones will be established in Washington, DC Beginning at 3 pm on Monday, January 19, through 7 am on Wednesday, January 21, all of the following areas will be posted as Emergency No Parking. From 4 am to 7 pm on Tuesday, January 20, many of these areas will be posted by law enforcement personnel and vehicular traffic will be limited to residents with government issued identification (driver’s license) or vehicle registration showing residency inside the restricted area, or to vehicles conducting essential business within the restricted area.  

• K Street, NW from Washington Circle to 12th 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, 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
• Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue through West Potomac and East Potomac Parks
• Buckeye Drive in East Potomac Park
• West Basin Drive
• East Basin Drive
• Parkway Drive from Rock Creek Parkway to Lincoln Memorial Circle
• Maine Avenue from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue

Vehicular Road Closures: In addition to above listed Emergency No Parking and vehicle restricted areas, from 4 am to 7 pm on Tuesday January 20, the following roads will be closed and off limits to vehicles without a law enforcement escort:   

• 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  

Road closures on Capitol Hill will be instituted by the US Capitol Police in cooperation with the Metropolitan Police Department. Access to the perimeter will be restricted to properly authorized and credentialed personnel only. No public parking will be provided. The following street closures will go into effect starting at 5 am on Tuesday, January 20, 2009:  

• Louisiana Avenue between Columbus Circle and Constitution Avenue, NW
• Delaware Avenue between Columbus Circle and D Street, NE
• First Street between Columbus Circle and D Street, NE
• North Capitol Street, NW between E Street and Louisiana Avenue
• E Street between New Jersey Avenue and North Capitol Street, NW
• New Jersey Avenue, NW between E Street and Louisiana Avenue, NW
• D Street between Louisiana Avenue, NW and Second Street, NE
• First Street, NW between D Street, NW and Louisiana Avenue, NW
• C Street, NW between First Street and Louisiana Avenue, NW
• Second Street, NW between C Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
• Second Street, NE between Massachusetts Avenue, NE and C Street, SE
• C Street, SE between Second Street, SE and First Street, SE
• First Street, SE between C Street and D Street, SE
• D Street between First Street, SE and Washington Avenue, SW
• Washington Avenue, SW between D Street, SW, and Independence Avenue, SW
• Independence Avenue, SW between Second Street, SW and Third Street, NW
• Third Street between SW Freeway and Constitution Avenue, NW
• Constitution Avenue, NW between Second Street, NW and Third Street, NW

Streets will reopen once the parade concludes at 5 pm  

Virginia Vehicular Restrictions   

All vehicular road restrictions will be coordinated between the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Transportation and local jurisdictions. On January 20, 2009, personal vehicles will not be permitted into Washington, DC, from Virginia.   

• I-395 north will be closed to general traffic. As a result, northbound I-95 traffic will be diverted onto I-495 North (Inner Loop) or I-495/I-95 East (Outer Loop) at the Springfield interchange.
• Eastbound I-66 lanes east of the Capital Beltway/I-495 will be closed to general traffic. Eastbound traffic on I-66 will also be diverted onto I-495
• Only authorized vehicles – emergency vehicles, buses, taxis and for-hire limos - will be permitted on I-395 North and I-66 East within the Beltway
• Memorial Bridge will be open to pedestrian traffic only. No motor vehicles will be permitted to cross the bridges.
• Key Bridge is restricted to mass transit only
• Chain Bridge is restricted to authorized vehicles and mass transit only, no charter buses
• The Woodrow Wilson and the American Legion bridges will have no traffic restrictions
• North Washington Street at Montgomery Street (City of Alexandria City) to Reagan National Airport will be closed

US Park Police Closures

The following vehicular road closures will be coordinated by the US Park Police on 
January 20, 2009:  

• The George Washington Memorial Parkway will be closed in both directions from I-495 to the 14th Street Bridge
• Buses and authorized vehicles traveling to Washington Reagan National Airport via I-395 may exit onto southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway for the airport only. All other traffic will need to use Route 1 or mass transit to access the airport
• Buses and authorized vehicles will be allowed to exit Washington Reagan National Airport onto northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway to enter the District of Columbia via the 14th Street Bridge. All other traffic will be 
  allowed to exit the airport via Route 1 or southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway

Maryland Transportation Information  

While there are no anticipated road closures or restrictions in Maryland, officials are discouraging individuals from driving into the District and encouraging the use of mass transit. The Maryland Department of Transportation’ s State Highway Administration is supporting Inaugural activities by:  

• Conducting extended emergency traffic patrols along interstate and primary highways approaching the National Capital Region
• Providing real time traffic public information by means of Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), Highway Advisory Radios (HAR), and CHART (Coordinated Highways Action Response Team) on the Web
• Assisting motorists and removing abandoned and disabled vehicles from travel lanes and reporting on travel conditions
• Providing traffic control support to conduct ramp closures and other operations warranted to maintain traffic
• Log onto www.marylandtranspo rtation.com for transit and travel information

Pedestrian Routes

The following access points have been identified as pedestrian-only routes to the National Mall:

• E Street, NE from Massachusetts Avenue, NE to 3rd Street, NW
• 7th Street, SW from D Street, SW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 19th Street, NW from K Street, NW to DuPont Circle, NW
• 3rd Street Tunnel (I-395) from New York Avenue, NW to SE/SW Freeway
• Arlington Memorial Bridge from Virginia, around Lincoln Circle to Independence Avenue, SW
• East Capitol Street, NE to North Carolina, SE to New Jersey Avenue, SE to I Street, SE

The following access points have been identified as pedestrian-only routes to the 
Inaugural Parade:

• 6th Street, NW from K Street, NW to P Street, NW
• 13th Street, NW from K Street, NW to Logan Circle, NW
• East Capitol Street, NE to Massachusetts Avenue, NE
• Arlington Memorial Bridge from Virginia, around Lincoln Circle to Henry Bacon 
  Drive, NW

Non Inauguration Related Street Closures 
Vicinity of the White House – Until Further Notice

• E Street, NW, from 15th Street to 17th Street is closed to all traffic.
• A “Truck Restriction Zone” has been established on 17th Street, NW, between H Street and Constitution Avenue, for commercial truck traffic only. This zone is in effect between the hours of 5 am and 9 pm daily.
• A “Truck Enforcement Zone” has been established on 17th Street, NW, between Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street. This zone is in effect 24 hours a day.
• A “No Stopping or Standing Zone” has been established on 17th Street, NW for ALL vehicles between New York Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue on both sides of the street. No metered parking or general public parking has been eliminated or affected by the new restrictions. This will be in effect 24 hours a day

17th Street, NW Vicinity of the US Capitol – Until Further Notice

• C Street, from Washington Avenue, SW, to 1st Street, SE
• South Capitol Street, from C Street to Independence Avenue
• New Jersey Avenue, from C Street to Independence Avenue, SE

Parking restrictions are in effect around the US Department of Justice building, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, and FBI Headquarters, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Parking is prohibited on 3rd Street, NW, from C Street to D Street, adjacent to MPDC Headquarters, 300 Indiana Avenue, NW.

Parking restrictions are in effect around the FBI Washington Field Office, 601 4th Street, NW.

These street closures are security precautions necessitated by the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and ongoing US efforts to combat terrorism. The Metropolitan Police Department wishes to thank residents of the District and the metropolitan area for their continued understanding and cooperation in this matter.  

Other Non-Inauguration Related Street Closures  

January 18 – BET Honor Awards

• E Street, NW from 12th Street, NW to 13th Street, NW
• 13th Street, NW  to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• 12th Street, NW from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

January 19 – SERVE DC  We Feed Our People

• G Street, NW from 10th Street, NW to 9th Street, NW
• 900 Block of G Street, NW between 9th and 10th Street