WASHINGTON – Before the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, D.C. officials have some important construction work to do shaping the viewing areas for the parade.
“We’re approximately two to two-and-a-half weeks into the construction process,” said Jeff Bonvechio, deputy director of the District’s General Services Department.
The agency is in charge of building three stands along the parade route.
Two of the stands will go outside the White House for President-elect Donald Trump, his guests and the media. The other stand will be outside the Wilson Building for Mayor Muriel Bowser and members of the D.C. Council.
“The steel support frames are going up,” Bonvechio said. “Soon we will begin putting in the remaining walls and the ceilings.”
At its peak, the construction crew will be comprised of about 65 people working at all three sites along busy Pennsylvania Avenue. They will need to be done with everything by Jan. 6 before turning the stands over to the Presidential Inaugural Committee and the Secret Service.
“Our law enforcement partners are what makes it possible to be able to do this kind of work in such a public setting,” said Bonvechio.
Work also has been ongoing outside the U.S. Capitol where the inauguration will take place. That construction is separate and is handled by the Architect of the Capitol.
