Residents and tourists in the Washington metropolitan area this weekend should be prepared for traffic jams and street closings stemming from protests and sporting events that will attract tens of thousands to the region.
“It’s going to be busy, no doubt about that,” said Terry Adams, a spokesman for the National Park Service.
The biggest events to take place in the District are the protests around the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Northwest tomorrow and a pro-choice rally and march on and around the Mall on Sunday.
Other events that could cause further traffic troubles on Saturday are the Washington Redskins’ draft party at FedEx Field in Prince George’s County and “Maryland Day” at the University of Maryland at College Park. More than 44,000 people have signed up to attend the draft party, where Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is expected to address fans.
Mr. Adams suggested that drivers seeking to avoid the big crowds in the District can park along Ohio Drive SW, which parallels the Potomac River near the Mall. He said all monuments will be open, even if the Mall gets crowded with protesters.
Visitors also could park at Union Station or Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and take the Metro to avoid traffic congestion, said an official with the Washington D.C. Convention and Tourism Corp.
After rush hour tonight, D.C. police will shut down streets within a block of the IMF and World Bank buildings, at 700 19th St. and 1818 H St., respectively. The streets will reopen in time for the morning rush hour on Monday.
Protesters tomorrow will mark the 60th anniversary of the World Bank and IMF with a “Festival of Resistance” rally and march that begins at Franklin Square, near the McPherson Square Metro stop.
“From there, we’re going to march past three to four locations, including the World Bank, IMF, and White House,” said David Levy, a spokesman for the Mobilization for Global Justice, one of the groups organizing the event.
D.C. police on Sunday will shut down streets north of the Mall for the March for Women’s Lives and pro-life counterdemonstrations.
Pro-choice women’s groups will hold a rally on the Mall at 10 a.m., and the march begins at noon. The event is co-sponsored by the National Organization for Women and other women’s advocacy groups.
The groups will march from the Mall, across the Ellipse and return to the Mall along Pennsylvania Avenue. Another pro-choice rally is scheduled on the Mall from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Society for Truth and Justice, a Texas-based pro-life group, has reserved sidewalk space along Pennsylvania Avenue to confront the pro-choice group when it marches by.
Drivers passing through Prince George’s County on Saturday also can expect traffic delays because of the draft party and Maryland Day at College Park.
Maryland Day is an annual event held by the University of Maryland as an outreach to the surrounding community. College officials expect more than 60,000 visitors at the free event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
University officials are not expecting major problems.
“If you’re asking whether or not Route 1 is going to get gunked up, well, it gets gunked up every day,” said Dave Ottalini, a university spokesman. “Our police are used to large crowds.”
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