Major Closures Near Foggy Bottom and TR Bridge Delays Impact Thursday Commute

Special Event Triggers Major Closures Near Foggy Bottom

Commuters heading toward the Foggy Bottom and Lincoln Memorial areas this morning should prepare for significant disruptions. A high-profile special event at the U.S. Institute of Peace has prompted the Metropolitan Police Department and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to implement extensive road closures and emergency parking restrictions throughout the early afternoon. The following impacts are expected until approximately 1:00 p.m.:

• 23rd Street NW: The roadway is closed to vehicle traffic between E Street and Lincoln Memorial Circle.
• Theodore Roosevelt Bridge: Both the inbound and outbound ramps to Constitution Avenue are currently blocked. Inbound traffic is being diverted to the E Street Expressway or toward Independence Avenue via the Potomac River Freeway.
• Constitution Avenue: Transit is prohibited between Henry Bacon Drive and 23rd Street, NW.

Persistent Construction on Theodore Roosevelt Bridge

In addition to today's special event, motorists are reminded that the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge (I-66) remains under a long-term rehabilitation project. Traffic capacity has been reduced from three lanes to two in both directions, which is causing bottlenecking during peak hours. Furthermore, the eastbound US Route 50 ramp from Arlington Boulevard is closed for extended repairs. Commuters are advised to use the George Washington Memorial Parkway to the Arlington Memorial Bridge as a primary detour into the city.

Local Incidents and Utility Repairs

Several localized incidents are further complicating the surface street network across the District:

• Capitol Hill Gas Leak: The U.S. Capitol Police have closed the intersection of 1st and Independence Avenue SE, along with East Capitol Street between 1st and 2nd Streets, following a reported gas leak. Motorists are urged to avoid the immediate vicinity.
• Georgia Avenue Restrictions: The 5600 block of Georgia Avenue, NW is currently restricted between Madison and Longfellow Streets due to a disabled vehicle, causing residual northward delays.

Metro Alerts: Signal and Switch Issues

Public transit users are also facing challenges this morning. WMATA has reported the following service impacts that may affect your commute time:

• Orange Line: Trains are currently single-tracking between New Carrollton and Cheverly due to a signal problem at Landover. Commuters should expect significant delays in both directions. Some Silver Line trains may offload passengers at Stadium-Armory to manage system congestion.
• Green and Yellow Lines: A switch problem at Greenbelt is causing intermittent delays. To minimize train bunching, some trains are being offloaded at Fort Totten and College Park.

With rain forecasted to continue throughout the day and a 75% chance of precipitation during the peak evening commute, residents are encouraged to allow at least 20 minutes of extra travel time and prioritize safety on wet roadways.