Four Bridges to Close for Inauguration (Over the Potomac River between DC and Virginia)

Washington Times ^ | January 7, 2009 | Timothy Warren

[HokieMom]

DEVELOPING STORY:

The Secret Service is expected to released details on street closures and traffic patterns on Wednesday for the Inauguration Day events, preparing the region for what is expected to be a frustratingly difficult day to get around the city.

The Key, the 14th Street, Memorial and Roosevelt bridges will all be closed on January 20 when Barack Obama is sworn in as President of the United States at the Mall, making the commute from Arlington to the District, which is done by millions every day, a nightmare.

Chain Bridge is also expected to be reserved for pedestrians on Inauguration Day.

[HokieMom]

Ok, I'll stay home then.

[muawiyah]

There are certainly a lot of people making the commute, but NOT MILLIONS!

Quite a bit of government employment is actually located in Virginia, or in the Maryland suburbs.

Since the subway system simply does not have the capacity of moving the crowds expected to arrive NO ONE will be commuting to work.

[notdownwidems]

Too bad they don’t close them permanently!

[HokieMom]

Maybe everyone will get the day off and have a 4-day weekend. People would LOVE that.

[HokieMom]

Should have closed them 20 years ago?

[Don Corleone]

Its what happens after the inauguration that worries me.

[notdownwidems]

more like 80 years ago!

[HokieMom]

I keep reminding myself that God is in control and He's sure up to something with this election. I'm focusing on having faith and trust in the Big Plan, so to speak.

[Eye of Unk]

Millions of people on foot in subzero weather not allowed to bring anything in like portable chairs, backpacks food or water, one toilet per 6,000 people, a police official or persons of authority for every 5 people.

This sounds like something out of Winds of War, where do they drop off their gold teeth and jewelry?

Welcome to what you voted for America.

[Vision Thing]

I just flew into DC this afternoon, and pictures of wussybama are everywhere, even on my Metro subway passcard.

I’m staying several blocks from the WH, and most of the streets surrounding the WH are closed off already.

They also have the Inauguration booth set up for the Wussybama on the north lawn of the WH.

DC sickens me.

[HokieMom]

I returned from Los Angeles after Christmas and Dulles airport had at least contained all their inauguration souvenirs to a few shops. I can't imagine what the streets of DC are like now.

[kristinn]

If you've got Friday night free and you're still in D.C., the D.C. Chapter would love for you to join them at their Friday night freep at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Trooprally can fill you in on the details.

[HokieMom]

more like 80 years ago!

Lift the drawbridge, quick!

[Perdogg]

I believe in God, but God believes in freewill. God isn't going to stand in any one’s way in ruining one’s country.

[Vision Thing]

Thanks for the invitation! However, it looks like I’ll miss out on all the fun. My return flight to DFW is on Friday afternoon. Next time I’m in DC, I’ll plan on attending a freep.

[enough_idiocy]

The national guard is being mobilized for this. Seems crazy to burden folks who have already done tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with this too.

[Procyon]

The government and the schools in the District and in the surrounding Maryland and Virginia counties are closed every four years on Inauguration Day. So we get a four-day weekend. There won’t be any commuters, just crazy people who are going to be outdoors for several hours on the coldest day of the year.

[HokieMom]

That’s good. I’ve been to one inauguration and there was a lot of fencing but I was glad I was there.

[angkor]

This on top of yesterday’s announcement that 395, 695, and other major roads would also be closed.

Basically it means stay away from DC on the 20th.

Something must have triggered this, it’s unprecedented and seems excessive for mere crowd control.

[Jonah Hex]

Hmmm, didn’t this last happen in 1861?