WASHINGTON – A regularly scheduled military exercise could impact local commutes.
Drills are going on across the D.C. region, as well as at naval bases and installations across the globe, through March 24. Identification checks and vehicle searches may take more time, meaning traffic backups are possible in the area.
The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda is just one location. While measures have been taken to minimize disruptions to base operations, it could cause backups at the gates and tie up traffic on roads like Rockville Pike.
Traffic near the Bethesda center was clear early Friday morning. But delays were already beginning on both sides of I-295 near Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in the District before 6:30 a.m.
“We can expect to see some delays in those gates, especially our main gates, especially during the rush hour period,” Capt. Anthony Calandra, commanding officer of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, says.
Non-mission essential employees at the base are being encouraged to take leave, telecommute or work outside their normal hours.
The exercise, called Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2012, is designed to enhance the training and readiness of Navy Security Forces to respond to installation and unit threats. It is not in response to any specific threat, but is scheduled regularly.
Past simulations as part of the drill have included an active shooter at Washington Navy Yard and an aircraft explosion at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, reports The Waterline, the unofficial publication of Naval District Washington.
A list of bases within Naval District Washington is below:
- Naval Support Activity Annapolis
58 Bennion Road
Annapolis, MD
- Naval Air Station Patuxent River
22268 Cedar Point Road
Bldg. 409 Suite 204
Patuxent River, MD
- NRC Solomons
- Naval Support Activity Bethesda
8901 Wisconsin Ave
Bethesda, MD
- Naval Support Activity Washington
1411 Parsons Ave SE
Suite 200
Washington, DC
- Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
- Naval Support Activity South Potomac
6509 Sampson Rd.
Suite 217
Indian Head, MD
- Naval Support Facility Dahlgren
6509 Sampson Rd.
Suite 217
Dahlgren, VA
- Naval Support Facility Indian Head
3838 Strauss Avenue
Indian Head, MD
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