Inauguration to Close Bridges and Highways

[kskiska]

Source: WP

Plan to Keep Drivers From Car-Free Zone in D.C.

Thursday, January 8, 2009; Page A01

The U.S. Secret Service and regional transportation officials yesterday unveiled a plan to ban personal vehicles from all Potomac River bridge crossings from Virginia into the District and interstates 395 and 66 inside the Capital Beltway, and cordon off a large section of downtown Washington from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m., to help manage the unprecedented crowds expected on Inauguration Day.

Some bridges and main thoroughfares with access to the city will remain open, including New York Avenue and the Sousa, Whitney Young and Benning Road bridges.

But Northern Virginia drivers will be able to reach the District only from the Beltway in Maryland, and officials are urging people not to attempt to drive into the city.

The bottom line, officials said, is to keep the Mall, the Capitol and the parade route clear of traffic. Even people who live in the District or can get in from Maryland or Virginia can't get anywhere near the inaugural events or even the surrounding downtown area by car. Walking, biking and mass transit -- which is expected to be jammed -- will provide the only access.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/07/AR2009010702396.html?hpid=topnews

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. I live here,

and every cab driver I've spoken to since the election has been an Obama supporter, which is really kind of great, because they're almost all Middle Eastern and they are wonderful to talk politics with.

And not one of them is working on January 20. As one guy put it, "Where can I go?"

But they're all gonna be watching it all on TV.