Road closures scheduled near Pentagon for 9/11 ceremony

Motorists can expect traffic around the Pentagon to be more congested than usual tomorrow due to the Pentagon Memorial dedication ceremony scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.

With multiple road closures scheduled, the Virginia Department of Transportation is urging commuters to use transit, telework or use alternate routes around the Pentagon.

Through lanes and HOV lanes on Interstate 395 will be open, according to VDOT, but Arlington County police will be closing the following roads at 3 a.m. Thursday.

• Washington Boulevard eastbound closed at I-395 and Columbia Pike
• Washington Boulevard westbound from Memorial Bridge
• Washington Boulevard westbound from I-395
• Washington Boulevard westbound from Hayes Street
• I-395 northbound HOV–no access to Washington Blvd
• I-395 southbound to Pentagon South Parking
• Columbia Pike closed from Joyce Street to Pentagon South Parking
• S. Fern Street from Army Navy Drive to the Pentagon
• S. Eads Street from Army Navy Drive to the Pentagon
• Rotary Road closed throughout Pentagon South parking
• North /South Connector road at Pentagon
• I-395 Northbound HOV – access to Eads Street, must exit to Army Navy Drive

The listed closures are subject to change, VDOT noted in a news release.

The Pentagon Metro station will be open to Metrorail, but the Metro bus and all other commuter bus routes that normally stop at the Pentagon will stop at the Pentagon City Metrorail station from 2 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Virginia Railway Express will be running a normal schedule tomorrow and does not expect any delays related to the event, but is expecting an increase in ridership, according to a VRE news release.

There will be no added trips or additional cars to VRE trains.

“We ask our riders to recognize that many of the people riding VRE tomorrow may be using our service for the first time. They may be attending the event or they may be trying to work around the possible traffic tie-ups. We have always received kind words from first time passengers about how helpful our regular riders are. We ask that you continue that tradition and be patient and polite to any of those who may be unsure of what to do,” the VRE news release states.

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission will be implementing its Emer-gency Service Plan tomorrow morning in response significant delays that are expected for custom-ers traveling to and beyond the Pentagon, according to PRTC.

A PRTC news release stated: “Under this plan, all [morning] OmniRide buses will operate service only to Metro stations. On the eastern side of the county, service will operate to the Franconia-Springfield Metro station; and from the Manassas area, service will operate to West Falls Church Metro station. Riders will pay the Metro Direct fare of $2.50 cash or $2.10 with a SmarTrip card.”

Regular service is expected to resume on all OmniRide buses after 1 p.m., PRTC said.