Drivers face sweeping closures Saturday along Constitution Avenue, Independence Avenue, 14th Street, Arlington Memorial Bridge, Whitehurst Freeway and other major routes for the DC Bike Ride
WASHINGTON, DC – Drivers heading through Washington this weekend could find some of the city’s busiest roads blocked for hours when the DC Bike Ride triggers widespread street closures and parking restrictions beginning Friday evening and continuing through Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police Department announced the traffic plan ahead of the DC Bike Ride on Saturday.
The first restrictions begin Friday at 6 p.m. and remain in effect until Saturday at 5 p.m.
During that period, Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 3rd Street to 7th Street, 4th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue to Independence Avenue, 6th Street NW from Constitution Avenue to C Street, 7th Street NW from Indiana Avenue to Constitution Avenue and Constitution Avenue NW from 3rd Street to 7th Street will be posted as Emergency No Parking and closed to vehicle traffic.
More closures begin at 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
Until 11 a.m., Constitution Avenue NW from 14th Street to 7th Street, 12th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue to Madison Drive, 10th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue and 9th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue will be closed and posted as Emergency No Parking.
Another group of major roads is scheduled to close to vehicle traffic beginning at 2:30 a.m. Saturday and continuing until midnight.
Those closures include 14th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue to the 14th Street Bridge and Independence Avenue from 3rd Street NW to 23rd Street SW.
The list also includes 23rd Street NW between Lincoln Circle and Independence Avenue SW and Arlington Memorial Bridge from Lincoln Circle to George Washington Parkway.
Rock Creek Drive from Memorial Parkway Drive to Virginia Avenue SW, Potomac River Freeway from Ohio Drive NW to Whitehurst Freeway and Whitehurst Freeway from M Street to 27th Street NW are also scheduled to close.
Additional closures include 27th Street NW from K Street to Virginia Avenue, Virginia Avenue NW from New Hampshire Avenue to Rock Creek Parkway, the E Street Expressway from Theodore Roosevelt Bridge to 19th Street NW and 20th Street NW from Virginia Avenue to E Street.
Emergency No Parking restrictions from 2:30 a.m. until midnight Saturday will also affect 14th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue to D Street, Independence Avenue NW from 14th Street to 3rd Street SW, Maryland Avenue from Independence Avenue to 3rd Street SW, 3rd Street from Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue NW and 27th Street NW from K Street to I Street.
MPD warned that vehicles parked in violation of posted Emergency No Parking signs will be ticketed and towed.
Drivers traveling near the event could face delays and are advised to account for the closures when planning routes through the District.
Police also warned motorists to watch for increased pedestrian traffic around the event area.
All scheduled restrictions and reopening times remain subject to change depending on conditions.
Key Points
- DC Bike Ride restrictions begin at 6 p.m. Friday, with additional road closures starting at 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
- Major affected routes include Constitution Avenue, Independence Avenue, 14th Street, Arlington Memorial Bridge, Potomac River Freeway and Whitehurst Freeway.
- Vehicles violating Emergency No Parking restrictions can be ticketed and towed, and scheduled closure times could change.