You can expect congestion, delays and detours on Inauguration Day. Please note:

Updated 01/20/09, 10:17 a.m.

Virginia State Police FAQs: Why roads are closed, how to get into DC, and more

Road and Bridge Closures

Beginning at 3 a.m. in Arlington on 1/20/09

I-395

• NORTH (Inbound, toward DC) – CLOSED to all privately owned vehicles; buses, shuttles, taxis allowed
• SOUTH (Outbound) – OPEN to all traffic
• All access ramps within Arlington to I-395 North – CLOSED (hard closures)
• All access ramps within Arlington to I-395 South – OPEN
• Shirlington Circle – CLOSED to all privately owned vehicles; buses, shuttles, taxis allowed

Route 1

• NORTH to 14th St. Bridge – EXIT CLOSED to all privately owned vehicles; buses, shuttles, taxis allowed

George Washington Memorial Parkway

• CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS TO ALL TRAFFIC – from the Beltway to Alexandria
• All access ramps within Arlington to GW Parkway including Spout Run – CLOSED (subject to change)

I-66

• EAST (Inbound, toward DC) – CLOSED to all privately owned vehicles; buses, shuttles, taxis allowed
• WEST (Outbound) – OPEN to all traffic
• All access ramps within Arlington to I-66 East – CLOSED (hard closures)
  • Glebe Rd. and Sycamore St.
• I-66 West – Key Bridge/Lee Highway Exit – CLOSED (hard closures)

Route 50/Arlington Blvd.

• EAST (Inbound, toward DC) at Washington Blvd. – CLOSED to all privately owned vehicles; buses, shuttles, taxis allowed
• WEST (Outbound) – OPEN to all traffic
• All access ramps to 50 EAST inside Washington Blvd. – CLOSED (hard closures)

Washington Blvd.

• At I-395 Interchange and GW Parkway – CLOSED to all traffic (subject to change)

Fort Myer

• NOT be accessible to the public (no walkers, bicyclists, etc.)
• Fort Myer is being used as a staging area for the Inauguration

Bridge Restrictions

14th Street Bridge; Teddy Roosevelt Bridge

• Pedestrian access to 14th Street bridge has been closed.  Use Memorial Bridge and Key Bridge.
• CLOSED to all privately owned vehicles; buses, shuttles, taxis allowed
• Sidewalks open to both bicycles and pedestrians
  [NOTE: Access the walkways for these bridges from the Mount Vernon trail, a major link for bicycle and pedestrian Potomac River crossings.]

Key Bridge; Chain Bridge

• INBOUND to DC from Arlington – NO Access to all vehicular traffic
• OUTBOUND from DC to Arlington – OPEN to all traffic
• No access to Key Bridge in Arlington from N. Lynn Street
• No access to N. Lynn St. in Arlington from Wilson Blvd. or Lee Hwy.
• Access to bikes and pedestrians on sidewalks

Memorial Bridge

• INBOUND and OUTBOUND – CLOSED to all vehicular traffic
• Open to bicycles and pedestrians
• A shuttle will run from Crystal City/Pentagon City to Memorial Bridge

Advice for the day 

• Be prepared for congestion, delays and detours.
• Heavy volume is expected on roads, bridges and highways across the region.
• If you must drive, be sure to have a full tank of gas before you leave, or you may become stranded while waiting in traffic.