In an unprecedented move, the Mall and much of the surrounding area is closed to the public days ahead of next week’s presidential inauguration. Hundreds of thousands of spectators typically watch the ceremonies, but this year, the Secret Service has launched a massive security operation to protect the Biden inauguration following last week’s short-lived insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Vehicle traffic in much of the city will be prohibited or limited to residents and businesses only. Metro is shuttering stations in the city’s core and near the Mall. Street closures will continue through Thursday, and are subject to change at the discretion of the Secret Service.
Green Zone: Traffic restricted
to residents or businesses
Red Zone:
Traffic restricted
to authorized vehicles only
NORTH
H ST.
2nd st.
CAPITOL
SOUTH
UNION
STATION
1st ST.
N. CAP. ST.
S. CAP. ST.
D St.
JUDICIARY
SQUARE
K St.
FED. CTR. SW
GALLERY
PLACE
ARCHIVES
7TH ST.
L’ENFANT
PLAZA
MASS. AVE.
PA. AVE.
METRO
CENTER
SMITHSONIAN
McPHERSON
SQUARE
FEDERAL
TRIANGLE
14TH ST.
H St.
L St.
INDEPENDENCE AVE.
CONSTITUTION AVE.
17TH ST.
14TH ST. Br.—
FARRAGUT
NORTH
FARRAGUT
WEST
OHIO DR.
Potomac River
VA. AVE.
23RD ST.
ARL. MEM.
BRIDGE
Note: Arlington Cemetery Metro station (not shown) will be closed.
14th St. bridge HOV lanes closed.
Green Zone: Traffic restricted
to residents or businesses
Red Zone: Traffic restricted
to authorized vehicles only
NORTH
2nd st.
H ST.
K St.
CAPITOL
SOUTH
1st ST.
UNION
STATION
N. CAP. ST.
S. CAP. ST.
D St.
N.Y. AVE.
MASS. AVE.
JUDICIARY
SQUARE
FED. CTR.
SW
L’ENFANT
PLAZA
ARCHIVES
GALLERY
PLACE
7TH ST.
PA. AVE.
METRO
CENTER
SMITHSONIAN
FEDERAL
TRIANGLE
McPHERSON
SQUARE
14TH ST.
L St.
H St.
INDEPENDENCE AVE.
CONSTITUTION AVE.
17TH ST.
14TH ST. Br.—
FARRAGUT
NORTH
FARRAGUT
WEST
19TH ST.
OHIO DR.
Potomac River
K St.
VA. AVE.
23RD ST.
PA. AVE.
ARL. MEM.
BRIDGE
Note: Arlington Cemetery Metro station (not shown) will be closed.
14th St. bridge HOV lanes closed.
Red Zone: Traffic restricted
to authorized vehicles only
Green Zone: Traffic restricted
to residents or businesses
7TH ST.
23RD ST.
N.Y. AVE.
MASS. AVE.
N. CAP. ST.
FARRAGUT
NORTH
PA. AVE.
L St.
K St.
K St.
FARRAGUT
WEST
McPHERSON
SQUARE
H ST.
H St.
GALLERY
PLACE
UNION
STATION
VA. AVE.
19TH ST.
17TH ST.
JUDICIARY
SQUARE
METRO
CENTER
D St.
PA. AVE.
FEDERAL
TRIANGLE
ARCHIVES
CONSTITUTION AVE.
2nd st.
1st ST.
ARL. MEM.
BRIDGE
SMITHSONIAN
Independence AVE.
14TH ST.
S. CAP. ST.
OHIO DR.
Potomac River
FED. CTR.
SW
CAPITOL
SOUTH
L’ENFANT
PLAZA
Note: Arlington Cemetery Metro station (not shown) will be closed.
14th St. bridge HOV lanes closed.
Red Zone: Traffic restricted
to authorized vehicles only
Green Zone: Traffic restricted
to residents or businesses
23RD ST.
7TH ST.
N.Y. AVE.
MASS. AVE.
FARRAGUT
NORTH
N. CAP. ST.
PA. AVE.
L St.
K St.
K St.
FARRAGUT
WEST
McPHERSON
SQUARE
H ST.
H St.
GALLERY
PLACE
UNION
STATION
VA. AVE.
19TH ST.
17TH ST.
JUDICIARY
SQUARE
METRO
CENTER
D St.
PA. AVE.
FEDERAL
TRIANGLE
ARCHIVES
CONSTITUTION AVE.
CONSTITUTION AVE.
2nd st.
1st ST.
SMITHSONIAN
ARL. MEM.
BRIDGE
INDEPENDENCE AVE.
14TH ST.
S. CAP. ST.
OHIO DR.
Potomac River
FED. CTR.
SW
CAPITOL
SOUTH
L’ENFANT
PLAZA
Note: Arlington Cemetery Metro station (not shown) will be closed.
14th St. bridge HOV lanes closed.
Red Zone: Traffic restricted
to authorized vehicles only
Green Zone: Traffic restricted
to residents or businesses
23RD ST.
7TH ST.
N.Y. AVE.
MASS. AVE.
FARRAGUT
NORTH
N. CAP. ST.
PA. AVE.
L St.
K St.
K St.
FARRAGUT
WEST
McPHERSON
SQUARE
H ST.
H St.
GALLERY
PLACE
UNION
STATION
VA. AVE.
JUDICIARY
SQUARE
19TH ST.
17TH ST.
METRO
CENTER
PA. AVE.
D St.
FEDERAL
TRIANGLE
ARCHIVES
CONSTITUTION AVE.
CONSTITUTION AVE.
2nd st.
1st ST.
SMITHSONIAN
ARL. MEM.
BRIDGE
INDEPENDENCE AVE.
INDEPENDENCE AVE.
14TH ST.
S. CAP. ST.
OHIO DR.
Potomac River
FED. CTR.
SW
CAPITOL
SOUTH
L’ENFANT
PLAZA
Note: Arlington Cemetery Metro station (not shown) will be closed.
14th St. bridge HOV lanes closed.
[How to get around — and avoid — downtown Washington during the inauguration. It won’t be easy.]
The road closures and parking restrictions affect streets around Capitol Hill, the Lincoln Memorial, Union Station, the Mall and the White House. Many of the restrictions began Tuesday and are expected to remain in place until Thursday after the inauguration.
[What you need to know about Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration]
“We know this is very inconvenient for our residents and businesses. I want to say thank you for your cooperation and flexibility,” D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said. “Clearly we are in uncharted waters.”
A raging pandemic is forcing most inaugural events online and the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, which left five people dead, is prompting heightened security.
[How pro-Trump insurrectionists broke into the U.S. Capitol]
Fencing is being erected around the Capitol, as well as around businesses and other federal buildings throughout the city.
NORTH
Union
Station
S. CAP. ST.
D St.
Locations are subject to change and may be modified at the discretion of the Secret Service.
Map shows fences as of Thurday at 5 p.m.
—Tall heavy
fencing
INDEPENDENCE AVE.
THE MALL
PA. AVE.
Smaller
barricades
H St.
L St.
CONSTITUTION AVE.
White
House
OHIO DR.
Potomac River
23RD ST.
Lincoln
Memorial
NORTH
2nd st.
Union
Station
S. CAP. ST.
D St.
Locations are subject to change and may be modified at the discretion of the Secret Service.
Map shows fences as of Thurday at 5 p.m.
—Tall heavy fencing
INDEPENDENCE AVE.
CONSTITUTION AVE.
THE MALL
PA. AVE.
Smaller
barricades
14TH ST.
H St.
White
House
17TH ST.
14TH ST. Br.—
PA. AVE.
OHIO DR.
Potomac River
K St.
VA. AVE.
Lincoln
Memorial
Locations are subject to change and may be modified at the discretion of the Secret Service.
Map shows fences as of Thurday at 5 p.m.
H St.
—Tall heavy fencing
19TH ST.
17TH ST.
Union
Station
Trump
Int’l Hotel
White
House
D St.
PA. AVE.
Smaller
barricades
CONSTITUTION AVE.
2nd st.
1st ST.
THE MALL
Lincoln
Memorial
Potomac River
Independence AVE.
14TH ST.
S. CAP. ST.
Locations are subject to change and may be modified at the discretion of the Secret Service.
Map shows fences as of Thurday at 5 p.m.
H St.
—Tall heavy fencing
VA. AVE.
19TH ST.
17TH ST.
Union
Station
Trump
Int’l Hotel
White
House
D St.
PA. AVE.
Smaller
barricades
CONSTITUTION AVE.
CONSTITUTION AVE.
2nd st.
1st ST.
Potomac River
THE MALL
Lincoln
Memorial
INDEPENDENCE AVE.
14TH ST.
S. CAP. ST.
OHIO DR.
Locations are subject to change and may be modified at the discretion of the Secret Service.
Map shows fences as of Thurday at 5 p.m.
23RD ST.
PA. AVE.
H St.
—Tall heavy fencing
VA. AVE.
19TH ST.
17TH ST.
Union
Station
7TH ST.
Trump
Int’l Hotel
White
House
Smaller
barricades
CONSTITUTION AVE.
2nd st.
Potomac River
THE MALL
Lincoln
Memorial
INDEPENDENCE AVE.
14TH ST.
S. CAP. ST.
1st ST.
OHIO DR.
The barricades are varied throughout the city and along the Mall, ranging from smaller metal barriers that are typically moved to corral crowds to tall metal fencing reinforced with heavy concrete blocks. Some fences are topped with razor wire, similar to fencing that was used in the summer to surround the White House.
Along with street closures and physical barricades, the National Guard has been deployed in the city, with additional troops sent in from other states as well. More than 20,000 troops are expected to be flood the city ahead of the inauguration.
About this story
Closures and barriers are subject to change and may be modified at the discretion of the Secret Service. Inaugural road closure information sourced from the U.S. Secret Service. Fencing and barrier information gathered from Post reporting as of Jan. 14.