FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 14, 2009
Record crowds are expected to visit the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as the nation celebrates the 56th Presidential Inauguration. On January 20, road and bridge closures and security restrictions around the U.S. Capitol and the Inauguration parade route will restrict car travel from Northern Virginia to Washington beginning at 2 a.m. The City of Alexandria urges all residents, whether they are attending the Inauguration, going to work or traveling within the City, to make plans and stay informed by visiting alexandriava.gov/inauguration.
No privately owned vehicles will be allowed to access Washington, D.C. directly from Alexandria. As of January 14, road closures and bridge restrictions in the City of Alexandria and in Northern Virginia include the following:
In Alexandria
- Interstate 395 North and all I-395 access ramps within Alexandria will be closed to all privately owned vehicles; however, authorized vehicles (buses, taxis, for-hire limos, car services, and emergency vehicles) will be permitted. I-395 South will be open to all traffic.
- Route 1 North to the 14th Street Bridge will be open, but with no access to Washington D.C.
- The 300 block of King Street will be closed in both directions.
- George Washington Memorial Highway Northbound: Traffic will be diverted to US-1 at Montgomery Street. Local traffic will be allowed through West and East Abingdon Drive and Bashford Lane. No traffic will be allowed north of Slaters Lane.
- George Washington Memorial Highway Southbound: Open from Reagan National Airport through the City.
Parking Restrictions
- King Street: No parking between Fairfax Street and Royal Street
- Montgomery Street: No parking between Washington Street and North Henry Street (Route 1 South)
In Northern Virginia
Interstate 95/395 HOV Schedule
- From 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, only buses and authorized vehicles will be permitted to use the I-95/395 HOV lanes from Route 234/Dumfries to Washington.
- The I-95/395 HOV lanes will open to vehicles with three or more people (HOV-3) at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21.
- The I-95/395 HOV lanes will be open southbound for HOV-3 traffic from 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, until 3 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, and from 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, until 9 p.m. or later.
Other Northern Virginia Road Closures
- At 2 a.m. on January 20, the 14th Street Bridge, Roosevelt Bridge, and Key Bridge will be closed to general traffic. Only authorized vehicles will be allowed to cross these bridges. The Memorial Bridge and the Chain Bridge will be open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic only. The 14th Street Bridge will be open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic, but only on the walking/biking pathway on the west side of the bridge.
- Beginning at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, privately owned vehicles will not be allowed to enter Washington from Virginia. Northern Virginia residents are urged to take public transit to the Inauguration activities. Drivers will only be able to enter Washington by driving in from designated Maryland routes. All other I-395 traffic heading toward Washington will be diverted at the Springfield interchange (exits 170B and 170C) onto I-495 North (Inner Loop) or I-495/95 East (Outer Loop). Southbound I-395 will be open to traffic.
- On Tuesday, January 20 at 2 a.m., all general traffic traveling eastbound on I-66 and toward Washington on the Dulles Toll Road will be diverted to the Capital Beltway. From January 17 through January 21, there will be no access to HOV lanes on I-395 or I-66, as the lanes are restricted to authorized vehicles only.
For additional information on Inauguration-related road closures in Northern Virginia, visit www.vsp.state.va.us/News/2009/VA_Prepares_for_Inauguration_Traffic_01-07-09.pdf. For more information about road closures throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area, visit inauguration.dc.gov/pdf/InaugJIC_PressRelease_TransportationPlan_FINAL.pdf.
As federal, state and local agencies continue to develop plans for the Inauguration, information on road closures may change. Please visit alexandriava.gov/inauguration for updates.
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