The arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in D.C. has led to a battalion of traffic disruptions as roads close and parking becomes more an exercise in futility. The Metropolitan Police Department has signaled the need for advanced planning for anyone daring to travel through the district this week, particularly due to road closures in effect from July 21 to July 27. This includes swathes of Virginia Avenue, Jamal Khashoggi Way, F Street, 27th Street, and the 2600 block of I Street NW, which are all slapped with Emergency No Parking postings, according to DC News Now.
But the impact of road closures extends beyond the immediate area. Drivers heading south on Rock Creek Parkway will be rerouted east on I Street towards Potomac River Freeway, while those coming from Ohio Drive SW will be directed north on the same freeway. Amidst the traffic rerouting, a trace of normalcy remains, allowing westbound traffic on Virginia Avenue NW to turn north onto Rock Creek Parkway, as reported by WUSA9.
If the transportation chaos wasn’t enough, the expected surge of dissent is set to escalate as thousands are anticipated to flood the streets in protest of Netanyahu’s visit. First Amendment activities will cause intermittent street closures and traffic disruptions, primarily affecting Pennsylvania Avenue NW between Constitution Avenue and 3rd Street. These demonstrations are occurring ahead of Netanyahu’s address to Congress and in response to international scrutiny of U.S. aid to Israel, following an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, as noted by CBS Austin.
The security and protocol requisite for such a high-profile visit ripple outward, touching the area of the United States Capitol with its own mantle of restrictions, starting Wednesday, 5 a.m. through 6 p.m. These restrictions, laying claim to arterial thoroughfares such as Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues as well as Independence and Maryland Avenues, weave a tapestry of inaccessible zones crucial for logistics and safety during a time of intensified scrutiny and engagement, as per WUSA9.
