Tim Bracken, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – In the midst of dealing with power outages and storm damage, the District will have its annual Independence Day Parade and fireworks display.
The 11 a.m. baseball game at National Park will also add to the influx of visitors.
Metro service information
If you are one of the thousands making your way into D.C., Metro is likely to be the best travel choice. Follow think link for more information on Metro’s July 4th service information.
Metro will be working overtime on Wednesday – service hours will be 7 a.m. to midnight, with extra trains running from 6 p.m. to midnight. All track work will be suspended as well.
Metro is also asking customers not to use the Smithsonian and Federal Triangle stations, which will both be “entry-only” after the fireworks.
Metro suggests traveling to and from the following stations:
- Foggy Bottom-GWU
- Metro Center
- Archives
- Gallery Place
- Judiciary Square
- Union Station
- L’Enfant Plaza
- Capitol South – The elevator at Capitol South is out of service for a major rehabilitation project.
- Federal Center SW
- Arlington Cemetery
More important travel info from Metro:
- Trains will operate on a Saturday schedule for most of the day, ramping up to near rush-hour service levels in the evening hours. Trains will operate on a regular service pattern; Rush+ will not be in effect.
- Smithsonian Station will be available for entry-only following the fireworks display.
- Metro will operate a combination of six and eight-car trains on most rail lines. Customers should check platform displays and spread out along the platform to use all available cars. An eight-car train will take up the entire length of the platform.
- Escalators at many downtown Metro stations will be intentionally turned off to help meter the flow of customers entering the system.
- Beginning at 2 p.m., every other Orange Line train traveling in the direction of New Carrollton will terminate at Stadium-Armory and return to Vienna.
- Beginning at 6 p.m., all Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square stations only.
- Beginning at 6 p.m., trains will depart every eight minutes from the end of each rail line and trains will depart every four minutes from Shady Grove and Vienna stations. Trains will operate about every four minutes in the downtown core of Washington.
- Parking will be free at all Metrorail stations.
- Due to capacity constraints, bicycles will not be permitted within the Metrorail system.
Street closures
Driving into the District will be extremely difficult on Wednesday. Most streets around the National Mall will close between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., with more closures added ahead of the parade at 11 a.m.
Here is a list of road closures that you can expect to find in D.C.:
- The Arlington Memorial Bridge and Memorial Circle closed.
- Rock Creek Parkway south of Virginia Avenue NW to Lincoln Memorial Circle, including all approaches and ramps.
- Lincoln Memorial Circle and all approaches and ramps into and out of Lincoln Memorial Circle — including Henry Bacon Drive.
- Ramp from the Roosevelt Bridge to Constitution Avenue NW and Ohio Drive SW.
- Inbound traffic on I-66 will be directed to the “E” Street Expressway.
- Constitution Avenue NW from 23rd Street, NW to 14th Street NW
- 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd Streets NW between Constitution Avenue NW and C Street NW.
- 18th Street NW between Constitution Avenue NW and Virginia Avenue NW.
- Virginia Avenue NW between Constitution Avenue NW and 18th Street NW
- 15th Street NW from E Street NW to Raoul Wallenberg Place SW.
- Raoul Wallenberg Place SW to Maine Avenue SW.
- Independence Avenue SW west of 14th Street SW to 23rd Street SW, including the merge with Rock Creek Parkway.
- Madison Drive NW from 15th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- Jefferson Drive SW from 15th Street SW to 3rd Street SW.
- 7th Street NW between Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW.
- 4th Street NW between Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW.
- Ohio Drive SW from the Inlet Bridge to Independence Avenue SW.
- West Basin Drive SW from Ohio Drive SW to Independence Avenue SW;
- Ramps from the George Washington Parkway, Route 110, and VA-27 to Memorial Circle.
- 3rd Street NW between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and Maryland Avenue SW.
- 14th Street NW between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW.
- Ramps from the George Washington Parkway to northbound I-395/14th Street Bridge closed.
- East Basin Drive SW at the ramp ramp to the 14th Street Bridge.
Parking in D.C. on July 4
Parking throughout the area around the National Mall will be extremely limited on July 4.
D.C. has no parking restrictions on the following streets from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.:
- 3rd Street, from Independence to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 4th Street, from Independence to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 7th Street, from Independence to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 14th Street, from Independence to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 15th Street, from Constitution to E Street, NW
- 17th Street, from Constitution to E Street, NW
- Constitution Avenue, both sides, from Pennsylvania Avenue, west to 23rd Street, NW
- 10th Street, NW, between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW
- 14th Street, NW, between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW
- C Street, NW, from 17th to 18th Streets, (Both Sides)
- Virginia Avenue, NW from Constitution Avenue to 21st Street, NW
D.C. bridges
Drivers should be advised that the 14th Street Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge will remain open throughout the day. There is no parking or stopping on the bridges. Any vehicles that stop on the bridge will be immediately ticketed and towed.
Parades/Events
Capitol Hill July 4th parade:
The annual parade on Capitol Hill will form at 8th and I Streets, Southeast at 8 a.m. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 12 p.m. at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza. The parade will proceed north on 8th Street, and west on D Street, Southeast. to the park at 7th and D streets, Southeast where it will disband. There will be rolling street closures during this event.
Palisades annual July 4th parade:
The parade begins at Whitehaven Parkway and MacArthur Boulevard Northwest, and proceeds Northwest on MacArthur, left on Edmunds Place, left on Sherier Place, and a right into the Palisades Recreation Center. Road closures begin at 12 p.m. and conclude at approximately 1:30 p.m. MacArthur Boulevard will be closed from Reservoir Road to Arizona Ave. for this event. There will be rolling street closures during this event.
National Archives July 4th Declaration of Independence reading:
From 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Constitution Avenue, Northwest between 7th and 9th Streets will closed for this event.
Capital Bikeshare
On July 4, Capital Bikeshare will be providing a bike corral at the 10th Street and Constitution Avenue, Northwest station to handle the large number of riders expected to use the system to visit the National Mall. The corral will be made available from noon to until one hour after the fireworks are over.
With the large number of road closures in the DC area on July 4, rebalancing vehicles will likely experience delays. Also, with the expected heavy use of Capital Bikeshare during the evening on Wednesday, July 4, bike availability may be an issue during the morning rush hours on Thursday, July 5. Check the Capital Bikeshare website for more information.
Arlington closures
Arlington police advise that the following closures will be in place:
2 p.m. to Midnight
- Eastbound Washington Boulevard between I-395 (exit 8B) and Memorial Bridge.
- N. Meade Street from Marshall Drive to Route 50 (access to the Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood will be from the Rhodes Street bridge).
- Marshall Drive from Route 110 to N. Meade Street.
- Eastbound N. Fairfax Drive from N. Pierce Street to N. Fort Myer Drive.
- Exit ramp from westbound Route 50 to N. Lynn Street (Rosslyn exit).
5 p.m. to Midnight
- Long Bridge Drive from Boundary Channel Drive to S. 10th Street (access to Long Bridge Park via shuttle buses from Pentagon City and Crystal City Metro stops).
7 p.m. to Midnight
- Eastbound Rt. 50 at N. Pershing Drive (detour using Washington Boulevard).
- Columbia Pike between S. Orme Street and the Pentagon.
- S. Joyce Street from Army Navy Drive to Columbia Pike.
- Ramp from westbound Washington Boulevard to eastbound Columbia Pike.
- Ramp from westbound Washington Boulevard to westbound Columbia Pike.
8:30 p.m. to Midnight
- Ft. Myer Drive from Wilson Boulevard to the Meade Street bridge (access to the Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood will be from the Rhodes Street bridge).
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