Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Road Closures For Cherry Blossom Parade

On Saturday April 4, 2009 the following road closures will be made to allow for the Cherry Blossom Parade.

Madison and Jefferson Drives in the National Mall will be closed from 5:00am until 1:00pm.

Constitution Avenue will be closed from 4th Street to 23rd Street from 9:00am until 1:00pm with the section of 7th Street through 9th Street closing at 5:30am.

7th Street will be closed between Independence Avenue and Constitution Avenue from 5:00am until 1:00pm.

US Park Police Officers will be present and able to assist visitors during these closures.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Traffic Patterns During National Cherry Blossom Festival

During the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the United States Park Police will implement a traffic pattern to facilitate the safe flow of traffic and mitigate congestion in the downtown Washington area.

Saturday March 28 2009, at about 5:00am, all traffic into West and East Potomac Park will enter from Maine Avenue at East Basin Drive.

Traffic in East Potomac Park, generally the Haines Point area, will flow normally.

Traffic in West Potomac Park will be substantially altered in that Ohio Drive along the Potomac River will flow northbound only. As such, there will be no access into West Potomac Park from 23rd Street and Independence Avenue.

This traffic pattern will remain for the entire National Cherry Blossom Festival.

As always, parking is limited and visitors are encouraged to use public transportation with the Smithsonian and Foggy Bottom Stations being the nearest to the activities.

The most convenient parking areas will be the A, B, and C lots along Ohio Drive Potomac River side in the area of the 14th Street Bridge. Additionally, there will be parking on Haines Point and limited parking in West Potomac Park on Ohio Drive along the Potomac River.

Handicapped parking is available on the west curb of Ohio Drive in the area of the Tennis Bubble, the north and south curbs of West Basin Drive adjacent to the FDR Memorial. There are also handicapped spaced at various locations throughout the parking areas.

There will be a free bicycle valet parking program on April 3rd and 4th from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm on the south side of the Jefferson Memorial.

Tourmobile will offer a free Cherry Tree viewing shuttle from the Jefferson Memorial around Haines Point with nine stops along the route.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Road Closures for Saturday March 21, 2009

Several road closures will be implemented on Saturday March 21, 2009 to allow for a permitted event in the downtown Washington, DC area.

Beginning at 5:00 am, parking restrictions will go into effect on Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to Virginia Avenue NW prohibiting all parking.

At 10:00 am parking will be prohibited on Parkway Drive north of Lincoln Memorial Circle to Ohio Drive NW.

At 12:00 noon the following road closures will be made:

· Constitution Ave 23rd Street - Virginia. Avenue NW - No traffic east or westbound.
· Parkway Drive at Old Constitution Turnaround (Ohio Drive) NW - No traffic on Parkway Drive
· 23rd Street to Lincoln Memorial Circle NW
· Ohio Drive ramp to Memorial Bridge
· Henry Bacon Drive
· Northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway ramp to Washington Blvd - No traffic up to Memorial Bridge.
· Ramp from Southbound Boundary Channel Drive to Washington Blvd - No traffic to Washington Blvd.
· Southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway ramp to Washington Blvd - No traffic to Washington Blvd (route 27).

It is anticipated that these closures will be lifted at about 4:00 pm on Saturday March 21, 2009.

There likely will be additional road closures in other areas to accommodate this event. Readers are advised to check with Washington, DC Metropolitan Police and Arlington County, Virginia Police for full details of road closures in their jurisdiction.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Road Closures March 15, 2009

The United States Park Police is scheduling several road closures to facilitate the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Washington, DC scheduled for Sunday March 15, 2009.

At 7:00 a.m., Jefferson Drive and Madison Drive in the National Mall will be closed.

At 11:30 a.m. Constitution Ave. NW will be closed from 7th Street to 23rd Street.

These closures will remain in effect until the parade concludes.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Woman Reunited With Family

On Monday March 9, 2009 at about 7:30 am, the United States Park Police responded to Great Falls National Park in Potomac, Maryland to investigate a vehicle that had left the road and become stuck in the mud. Initial reports to the United States Park Police were that the vehicle was involved in an accident. There was no accident, however, the vehicle was found abandoned next to the C and O Canal.

The operator of the vehicle was not on the scene. The United States Park Police sent officers to the registered owner’s address in the District of Columbia, and did not find the operator; however, they met with the operator’s grand daughter.

These officers learned that the operator was an elderly woman who had memory problems and might be disoriented.

These officers conducted a search of the area, and with a tip provided by a passerby, located the disoriented woman wandering along a trail. She was located at 10:00 am. This woman was reunited with her grand daughter at the United States Park Police George Washington Memorial Parkway Station.

The woman was uninjured and her grand daughter returned her home.

Friday, March 6, 2009

New Recruits Graduate

With thirteen new officers graduating from basic police training on March 6, 2009, the United States Park Police has added to the ranks dedicated to protecting the Nation’s Capital and the historic icons. This recruit class well represents the diverse community the Department serves with members originally from as far away as Kazakhstan and the Dominican Republic.

The new officers will be assigned to the Washington, DC offices focusing on the Department’s ongoing dedication to protect about 60 million visitors and residents who visit the National Park Service DC locations annually.

Chief of Police Salvatore Lauro expresses his appreciation to the new officers who put so much effort into their training, and especially thanks the National Park Service for its continued support in furthering the mission of public safety so that the National Park Service system remains enjoyable by all.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

March 3, 2009

The United States Park Police is currently investigating a serious motor vehicle crash on the Rock Creek Parkway south of P Street. The Rock Creek Parkway will be closed in both directions for the investigation. This will be updated when the road reopens.

Media representatives may set up on Rock Creek Parkway at the bottom of the ramp from P Street.


Update at 3:30 PM

Rock Creek Parkway has been reopened in the rush hour configuration. The on scene portion of the crash investigation is concluded.