
On Saturday, motorists will have to navigate road closures and parking restrictions due to the annual Cherry Blossom Parade, the Metropolitan Police Department has announced. If you're planning to drive in the area, think again. A slew of streets will be off-limits from the wee hours of the morning until the late afternoon.
The traffic disruptions start at 3:00 a.m. when emergency no-parking zones kick in, not lifting until 4:00 p.m., affecting several major thoroughfares. Areas around Independence Avenue, SW, Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, and Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW are set to be hit the hardest. And for those who thought they could slip through, street closures will fully block access to portions of 7th, 10th, and 12th Streets, among others, as detailed here.
The police will be shutting down additional roads like 9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from approximately 9:00 a.m. through to the event's end. For the parade's sake, even the inbound I-395 to 14th Street Bridge & 14th Street Bridge (HOV) won't escape the wave of restrictions, funneling all traffic eastbound on the I-395 SE/SW Freeway.
Residents and tourists alike are urged to opt for public transportation as the street closures are bound to cause significant delays. Among the arteries affected, Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, will be particularly stricken, altering the pulsing flow of D.C. traffic for the day. Given the expected influx of spectators and street closures, locals are bracing for a picturesque, yet potentially gridlocked, Saturday.