WASHINGTON – D.C. transportation leaders are changing course, and will allow construction crews to continue working in the District between the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and Inauguration Day.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 16. The inauguration is Jan. 20.
D.C. had planned to stop all construction activities, including fixing potholes, in the city from Friday, Jan. 13 through Tuesday, Jan. 24.
“This is much, too much of an over-reaction, to what? I am not sure. For years, we’ve been able to do both – without incident,” said D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who fired off a letter to the D.C. Department of Transportation, demanding a change.
“We see no need to shut down the city for such a long period of time. I mean you just don’t stop the world because Martin Luther King’s birthday comes or because it’s going to be inauguration,” she said.
DDOT’s Terry Owens said that after a meeting with the construction community and law enforcement officials, including the Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Department, restrictions will now be eased between the holidays.
“Whenever there’s a federal holiday or major event, DDOT will impose a suspension of work order. It is something we do. We have at least 11 every year,” Owens said.
To follow policy, he said, the city requires stopping work before and after the holidays.
Construction crews can apply for waivers to work on days that are restricted. Companies must apply for waivers by Jan. 11.
