Drivers and city dwellers, take note: this weekend's Kappa En Blanc event is set to cause a major shake-up in the District of Columbia's traffic patterns. The Metropolitan Police Department has announced that certain streets will be under emergency no parking restrictions and closures that will last for a full twelve hours on Saturday, April 27, according to a bulletin on the department's website.
Motorists should prepare to not only find alternative parking options but also to detour around 17th Street from New Hampshire Avenue to S Street, NW, and S Street from New Hampshire Avenue to 17th Street, NW. These areas will be inaccessible from noon to midnight on the day of the event. Additionally, S Street from 17th Street to 16th Street, NW will be open to local traffic only and can be accessed from 16th Street, as outlined by MPDC.
The event, which has grown increasingly popular over the years, will draw a sizeable crowd, ensuring a lively atmosphere is at hand. However, the Metropolitan Police Department warns that any vehicles parked in violation of the emergency no parking signs "will be ticketed and towed." You would do well to heed the clear signage that will dot the affected areas, hoping to avoid the certain headache of retrieving a towed vehicle.
Residents and visitors should also expect to add a few extra minutes to their commutes, even if they aren't planning to get close to the event's perimeter. Those looking for up-to-the-minute traffic information have been advised to check the police traffic X account at twitter.com/DCPoliceTraffic. This real-time resource will likely prove invaluable for those attempting to cleverly navigate around the gridlock that's bound to happen.
The Metropolitan Police Department also cautions that although these plans are currently in effect, street closures and times are subject to change based on prevailing or unexpected conditions. The uncertainty of city life never quite allows for a full breath until the moment itself arrives, but plan you must. The careful observer and the well-prepared citizen alike will make their arrangements now, and keep a vigilant eye on updates as the hours count down to the Kappa En Blanc festivities.
