Washington, D.C. Traffic Alerts

Events and activities celebrating the 56th Presidential Inauguration will take place beginning on Saturday, Jan. 17, through Wednesday, Jan. 21, with the swearing-in scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20.



Security and transportation plans for the inaugural have been developed by a partnership of local, state and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies, including the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the Virginia State Police, the Maryland Department of Transportation, the United States Secret Service, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the United States Capitol Police and the United States Park Police.



This transportation plan provides the general outlines for road closures, vehicular restricted zones, public transportation, charter vehicles and pedestrian routes. Additional information is available online for residents of the District, Virginia and Maryland, as well as charter operators, through the websites listed at the end of this plan. Additions to this plan may be made prior to the Inaugural and will be updated on these websites. Specific questions regarding this transportation plan should be directed to the participating agencies as identified.



Access into Washington, D.C., will be limited on Tuesday, Jan. 20. 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.