DC commuters face Constitution Ave closures for National Archives festival
Washington, DC – Constitution Avenue closures and WMATA bus detours around the National Archives festival could slow downtown trips through June 8.
Drivers, bus riders, and downtown workers should expect slower trips around the National Archives this week as the Spirit of Independence Festival tightens access on Constitution Avenue and nearby blocks in the federal core.
The festival runs Thursday, June 4, through Saturday, June 6, at the National Archives Museum on Constitution Avenue. MPD says emergency no-parking restrictions began Thursday, May 28, and run through Monday, June 8, while Constitution Avenue between 7th Street and 9th Street NW is closed to vehicle traffic through the same period.
What is restricted near the Archives
MPD says emergency no-parking signs cover Constitution Avenue from 6th Street to 10th Street NW, 7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Madison Drive NW, and 9th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW. The advisory also says several nearby streets may face intermittent closures for public safety during the festival, including parts of Constitution Avenue, 6th Street, 7th Street, and 9th Street.
The department says drivers should expect parking enforcement, including ticketing and towing, and possible delays in the area. Officials are urging motorists to consider alternate routes.
WMATA buses are detouring
WMATA says buses on routes D1X, D30, D32, D40, D4X, D44, D60, and D6X will detour from Sunday, May 31, through Monday, June 8, because of the National Archives 250th Celebration build-out.
That can mean a different boarding point, a longer walk from an alternate stop, or more time built into a downtown trip. WMATA is telling riders to check MetroAlerts and Rider Tools before heading out.
Why it matters
The disruption is limited to the corridor around the National Archives and Pennsylvania Avenue, not all of downtown Washington. But that still matters for commuters crossing the federal core, workers headed to nearby offices, visitors coming for the festival, and businesses that rely on normal curb access.
If you are driving, riding Metrobus, or picking someone up nearby, plan for reroutes and extra time through June 8.
Sources
- National Archives — Spirit of Independence Festival
- Metropolitan Police Department — Traffic Advisory for National Archives 250th Celebration
- WMATA — Temporary Detour: National Archives 250th Celebration Build Out
- WTOP — DC area weekend guide
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