(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising residents, workers and visitors that there are multiple special events scheduled for this weekend, as well some construction activity, that could impact traffic in the District. Most of this information has been previously announced, but it is included here to ensure it is widely distributed.

National Marathon

The 5th Annual SunTrust National Marathon, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon and Relay Races will be run on Saturday, March 20, 2010, with a 7 am start time and 1 pm finish time. This half-day event includes a 26.2-mile marathon, a 13.1 mile half marathon, and relay races. The race route starts and ends at RFK Stadium and runs through six of the city’s eight wards.

Race officials advise the public that temporary, intermittent street closings will be in effect on Saturday, starting at 6:45 am. For a complete list of the road closures, please visit ddot.dc.gov.

Vehicles may be parked along the route; however they will not be allowed to be moved once runners enter the area to ensure that no moving vehicles will collide with participants. Affected streets have been posted with temporary “Official Course Route” signage.

ANSWER Demonstration

An anti-war demonstration is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 20, from 9 am to 5 pm.

Participants are expected to gather at Lafayette Park near the White House and then proceed over the following route: west on Pennsylvania Avenue to 18th Street, north on 18th Street to M Street, east on M Street to 15th Street, south on 15th Street to Vermont Avenue, southwest on Vermont Avenue to H Street, east on H Street to 15th Street, south on 15th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue where they will disband.

Immigration Demonstration

The “March for America” is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 21 on the National Mall.

Following a 2pm rally, participants plan to march back to their bus parking lot at RFK Stadium. From the Mall they will walk north of 7th Street, east on Constitution Avenue, south on 2nd Street, NE, and east on East Capitol Street to the stadium.

Motorists are advised there could be temporary road closures during the march.

Lane Closures on Kenilworth Avenue (DC 295)

This weekend, DDOT is scheduled to conduct demolition work to remove beams from the Eastern Avenue Bridge crossing over Kenilworth Avenue. The work will require multiple lane closures on Kenilworth Avenue and motorists are advised to expect delays.

Beginning at 7 pm this evening, Friday, March 19, and continuing until 7 pm on Saturday, March 20, two northbound lanes and two southbound lanes will be closed on Kenilworth Avenue (DC 295) under the Eastern Avenue Bridge. One lane will remain open in each direction and through traffic can also use the service roads on either side of Kenilworth Avenue.

Additionally, during lifting operations, all traffic will be temporarily diverted to the adjacent Service roads.

This work will resume Monday, March 22, and will be conducted each night next week between the hours of 7 pm and 5 am.

Motorists are advised to consider alternate routes through the area, including New York Avenue to access I-395, and the Capital Beltway to bypass the construction zone.

Frederick Douglas Memorial Bridge Swing Span Opening Sunday

DDOT is scheduled to close the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge (aka South Capitol Street Bridge) for routine testing, from 4 am to approximately 9 am on Sunday, March 21, 2010.

During normal opening and closing operations, the swing span is lowered and then turned or “swung” around in order to allow water traffic to pass. Crews test the swing span each month to ensure it operates properly and make any necessary repairs.

The bridge will be reopened to traffic as soon as the test opening and any related repairs are finished. In most cases the work is completed ahead of schedule.

Closure of Chain Bridge

DDOT is scheduled to completely close the Chain Bridge this weekend for reconstruction work on the bridge deck, approaches and structural steel beams. This work was originally scheduled for late January and early February, but was delayed by multiple snow storms, sub-freezing temperatures and again last weekend by heavy rains.

Weather permitting, Chain Bridge will be closed from 8 pm tonight, Friday, March 19 until 5 am on Monday, March 22.

Impact on Traffic

• There will be no access to the bridge from either the District or Arlington. That includes cyclists and pedestrians because the sidewalk will also be closed.
• Thru traffic on Canal Road will not be obstructed, but motorists will not be able to turn onto Chain Bridge.
• Motorists are advised to use alternate routes and river crossings including the American Legion, Key, Roosevelt, Memorial and 14th Street Bridges.
• Variable Messages Boards will be in place to warn drivers of the work ahead and re-direct them to alternative routes.

Crews will be pouring new approach slabs, replacing expansion joints, installing a catcher beam system and upgrading streetlights on the bridge.

The project began on June 1, 2009 and was originally scheduled for completion in January 2010. DDOT now anticipates all of the lanes on the bridge will reopen by May 31, and additional work beneath the bridge is scheduled to continue through August 2010.