WASHINGTON — The pope will be in D.C. Sept. 22 through 24, and whether you plan to attend the events or not, chances are you will feel the impact when it comes to traffic.
Officials say that the pope’s 48-hour visit to the nation’s capital will have a significant impact on traffic in the city, with extended road closures in areas around where the pope will be.
Streets that are closed will also be closed to bikes and pedestrians on foot, according to the District Department of Transportation.
Arlington County also has announced plans to close roads, depending on the level of pedestrian traffic trying to cross the Potomac River bridges.
While the pope is visiting D.C. between Sept. 22 and Sept. 24, the following road closures will be in effect. Go to DDOT’s Pope visit page for last-minute updates:
Around the Vatican Embassy
Tuesday, Sept. 22 (approximately 9 a.m.) – Thursday, Sept. 24 (approximately 4 p.m.)
- 34th Street NW between Massachusetts Avenue NW and Garfield Street NW
- Fulton Street NW between 34th Place NW and Normanstone Drive NW
Notes:
Massachusetts Avenue NW between Observatory Circle South and 34th Place NW will be closed to all northbound traffic. Southbound traffic will be permitted between 34th Street NW and Waterside Drive NW. All northbound truck traffic will be diverted onto Q Street NW at Sheridan Circle NW. All other northbound traffic will be diverted onto Rock Creek Parkway at Waterside Drive NW. All southbound truck traffic will be diverted east on Garfield Street NW or continue south on Wisconsin Avenue. Massachusetts Avenue NW will be closed to all traffic intermittently.
Click here for a printable PDF map that includes road closures and alternate routes.
Around the White House
Tuesday, Sept. 22 (approximately 10 p.m.) – Wednesday, Sept. 23 (approximately 12 p.m.)
- Connecticut Avenue NW between H and I Streets NW
- 16th Street NW between H and I Streets NW
- Vermont Avenue NW between H and I Streets NW
- H Street NW between 17th and 15th Streets NW
Tuesday, Sept, 22 (between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.) – Wednesday, Sept. 23 (12 p.m.)
- 15th Street NW between H Street NW and Maine Avenue NW
- 17th Street NW between Pennsylvania and Independence Avenues
- Constitution Avenue between 23rd and 12th Streets NW
- Henry Bacon Drive NW between Constitution Avenue and Lincoln Memorial Circle NW
- H Street NW between 15th and 17th Streets NW
- New York Avenue NW between 15th and 14th Streets NW
- Vermont Avenue NW between H and I Streets NW
- 16th Street NW between I and H Streets NW
- Connecticut Avenue NW between I and H Streets NW
- G Street NW between 18th and 14th Streets NW
- F Street NW between 18th and 14th Streets NW
- New York Avenue NW between 18th and 14th Streets NW
- E Street NW between 18th and 14th Streets NW
- D Street NW between 18th and 17th Streets NW
- C Street NW between 18th and 17th Streets NW
- 18th Street NW between Constitution Avenue NW and Virginia Avenue NW
- Virginia Avenue NW between Constitution Avenue NW and 18th Street NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 13th and 15th Streets NW
- 14th Street NW between Pennsylvania and Independence Avenues NW
- Madison Drive NW between 7th and 15th Streets NW
- Jefferson Drive SW between 12th and 15th Streets NW
- 20th Street NW between C Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW
- 21st Street NW between C Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW
Note: There is an exception for southbound traffic on 19th Street NW, which will be permitted to flow westbound on Constitution Avenue to 23rd Street NW.
Click here for a printable, downloadable PDF map.
Around the Cathedral of St. Matthew The Apostle
Wednesday, Sept. 23 (6 a.m. — 3 p.m.)
- Rhode Island Avenue NW between Connecticut Avenue and 17th Street NW
Wednesday, Sept. 23 (11 a.m. — 1 p.m.)
- M Street NW between Connecticut Avenue and 17th Street NW
- Connecticut Avenue between Desales and 18th Street NW
- 17th Street NW between M and N Streets NW
Click her for a printable map with more details about closures and details.
Around Conference of Catholic Bishops/Basilica/Seminary
Wednesday, Sept. 23 (12 a.m. — 8 p.m.)
- Michigan Avenue NE between Irving and 10th Streets NE
- Irving Street NE from North Capitol Street NE entrance/exit ramps to Michigan Avenue NE
- Marshall Road NE between North Capitol Street NE and Harewood Road NE
- Harewood Road NE between Michigan Avenue NE and Taylor Street NE
- John McCormack Drive NE between Michigan Avenue NE and Taylor Street NE
- 7th Street NE between Monroe Street NE and Michigan Avenue NE
- Monroe Street NE between Michigan Avenue NE and 7th Street NE
- 4th Street NE between Franklin Street NE and Michigan Avenue NE
- Lincoln Road NE between Franklin and 4th Streets NE
Wednesday, Sept. 23 (5 p.m. — 8 p.m.)
- Taylor Street NE from North Capitol Street NE to Hawaii Avenue NE (in red on map above)
Click here for a printable, downloadable PDF map.
Around St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Wednesday, Sept. 23 (9 p.m.) – Thursday, Sept. 24 (2 p.m.)
- G Street NW between 8th and 11th Streets NW
- G Place NW between 9th and 10th Streets NW
- 9th Street NW between H and F Streets NW
- 10th Street NW between H and F Streets NW
Click here to see a larger map of the road closures and alternate routes in this area.
Around the U.S. Capitol
2015 Papal Visit Capitol Closures and Detours
Wednesday, Sept. 23 (5 p.m.) – Thursday, Sept. 24 (4 p.m.)
- Maryland Avenue SW between 3rd and 1st Streets SW
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd and 1st Streets SW
Thursday, Sept. 24 (12 a.m. — 12 p.m.)
• Constitution Avenue between 3rd and 2nd Streets NW
• Independence Avenue between 3rd and 2nd Streets SE
• 3rd Street NW/SW between D Street NW and C Street NW
• D Street NE/NW between 2nd Street NE and New Jersey Avenue NW
• First Street NE/SE between Massachusetts Avenue NE and D Street SE
• Delaware Avenue NE between Columbus Circle NE and Constitution Avenue NE
• North Capitol Street NE/NW between E Street and Louisiana Avenue NW
• New Jersey Avenue NW between D Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW
• South Capitol Street SE/SW between E Street SE/SW and Independence Avenue SW
• C Street SE between 2nd and 3rd Streets SW
• Second Street SW between Independence Avenue SW and E Street SW
• First Street NE/SE between D Street SE and Independence Avenue SE
Thursday, Sept. 24 (12 a.m. — 4 p.m.)
• East Capitol Street NE/SE between 2nd and 1st Streets SE/SW
• Louisiana Avenue NE/NW between New Jersey and Constitution Avenues NW
• Washington Avenue SW between South Capitol Street SE/SW and Independence Avenue SW
Click here for a printable, downloadable PDF map.
Residents can compare the impact to a presidential inauguration, said James Murray, the Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service’s Washington Field Office. D.C.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said the city is ready.
Possible Arlington County closures
Arlington County police announced that some roads near the Pentagon City and Rosslyn Metro stations along with the Potomac River bridges could also be closed to accommodate heavy pedestrian traffic exiting the District.
Police warn drivers that the following roads could be closed to traffic anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday:
Rosslyn
- N. 19th Street at N. Lynn Street
- N. 19th Street at Ft. Myer Drive
- N. Moore Street at Lee Hwy
- Wilson Boulevard at Ft. Myer Drive
- Wilson Boulevard at N. Lynn Street
- Ft. Myer Drive at N. 17th Street and Fairfax Drive
Pentagon City
- Army Navy Drive at S. Eads Street
- Army Navy Drive at S. Joyce Street
- 1200 S. Hayes Street at the mall entrance
- S. 15th Street at S. Hayes Street
- S. 12th Street at S. Fern Street
Teddy Roosevelt Bridge
- I-66 East at Teddy Roosevelt Bridge – all traffic will be diverted onto Route 110 South
- Route 50 East at exit to Teddy Roosevelt Bridge – all traffic will be diverted on to the George Washington Parkway South
The closures will depend on the volume of pedestrians walking from D.C. to Arlington after the papal parade and the pope’s address to Congress.
WTOP’s Sarah Beth Hensley, Andrew Mollenbeck and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
