Road closures: Cherry Blossom races shut down Downtown DC this weekend

Road closures from the annual Cherry Blossom races will shut down tourist hot spots in the District this weekend.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Races are put on by a consortium of credit unions that have donated nearly $9 million to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since 2002. The 5K on Saturday and 10-miler on Sunday mark the 52nd anniversary of the races.

The races draw over 20,000 participants and spectators every year.

The 5K race will start and end on Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Street NW in Downtown D.C., heading down Pennsylvania Avenue and cutting around multiple museums and federal buildings.

The 10-miler starts and finishes at the Washington Monument, curling down Independence Avenue SW, along the Kennedy Center, across the Arlington Memorial Bridge and back along the Tidal Basin.

Metrorail will open two hours early on Sunday so race day participants of the 10-mile run can make the race’s 7:30 a.m. start time.

The road closures for both events are outlined below.

Road closures

Saturday

The 5K race starts at 9:15 a.m. Saturday. Long stretches along Pennsylvania Avenue between 9th and 14th streets will likely be blocked off to vehicles.

The Tidal Basin will remain open to pedestrian traffic, but use alternative modes of transportation to see the cherry blossoms as it’ll be difficult to drive and park.

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic and posted as Emergency No Parking on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Petalpalooza event:

3rd Street from Tingey Street to Water Street SE
4th Street from Tingey Street to Water Street SE
4th Street from M Street to Tingey Street SE (southbound only)
Water Street from 3rd Street to Tingey Street SE

The following streets will be closed to vehicle parking on Saturday from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 9th Street NW
3rd Street from C Street NW to D Street SW
Independence Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street SW
4th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to D Street SW
D Street from 3rd Street to 4th Street SW

The following streets will be closed completely on Saturday from 2 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:

Pennsylvania Avenue from 9th Street to 14th Street NW
13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
12th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue NW
11th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
10th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue NW

The following streets will be closed completely on Saturday from 8:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.:

Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 9th Street NW
9th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue NW
D Street from 8th Street to 9th Street NW
7th Street from Indiana Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW
6th Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue NW
Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street NW
Independence Avenue from Washington Avenue to 7th Street SW
4th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to D Street SW
D Street from 3rd Street to 4th Street SW
6th Street from Independence Avenue to Maryland Avenue SW
3rd Street from C Street, NW to Virginia Avenue SW

Sunday

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic by the Metropolitan Police Department on Sunday, April 6, from approximately 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.:

1200 block of Maine Avenue, SW
Maine Avenue from I-395 westbound to Independence Avenue, SW
Theodore Roosevelt Bridge Ramp to Ohio Drive, NW
9th Street Tunnel ramp to Maine Avenue, SW
Virginia Avenue from 27th Street to Rock Creek Parkway, NW
I Street from 27th Street to Rock Creek Parkway, NW

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic by the United States Park Police on Sunday, from approximately 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.:

Ohio Drive from 23rd Street to East Basin Drive, SW
Independence Avenue from 14th Street to 23rd Street, SW
Rock Creek Parkway from Ohio Drive to Virginia Avenue, NW
East and West Potomac Parks
East Basin Drive, SW
Raoul Wallenberg Place from 15th Street to Maine Avenue, SW
Ramp from Memorial Circle to Ohio Drive, SW
Homefront Drive, SW
Daniel Chester French Drive from Independence Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, SW
Maine Avenue at ramp from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue, SW
17th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
Parkway Drive, NW from Lincoln Memorial Circle to Rock Creek Parkway
15th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
Madison Drive from 14th Street to 15th Street, NW
Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 15th Street, SW