TRAFFIC ALERT: Planned Road Closures for July 4, 2023, Celebration

Published on June 27, 2023

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Police Department, Virginia State Police, United States Park Police, and Virginia Department of Transportation will close multiple roadways on Tuesday, July 4^th, 2023. These closures are designed to facilitate the safe passage of large crowds for the Independence Day events and fireworks.

In addition to the below closures, Arlington National Cemetery, in collaboration with the Air Force District of Washington, will close public access to the Southern Expansion portion of Arlington National Cemetery on July 4, which includes access to the Air Force Memorial. Due to ongoing construction for Arlington National Cemetery’s Southern Expansion Project, Columbia Pike, between S. Oak Street and S. Joyce Street will be inaccessible to the public and detoured onto Southgate Road.

Road Closures

4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

• Marshall Drive, from Route 110 to N. Meade Street
• N. Meade Street, from Marshall Drive to N. Fairfax Drive (access to the Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood will be from the Rhodes Street bridge – local traffic only)
• Exit ramp from westbound Route 50 to N. Lynn Street (Rosslyn exit)
• Exit ramp from eastbound Route 50 to N. Meade Street (Rosslyn exit)
• Eastbound N. Fairfax Drive, from N. Pierce Street to N. Fort Myer Drive

9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

• Fort Myer Drive, between 19^th Street N. and Arlington Boulevard

Closed by United States Park Police/National Park Service

• Memorial Bridge / Memorial Circle

Additional road closures not mentioned above may be implemented at police discretion in the interest of public safety. Street parking in these areas will be restricted. Motorists should be on the lookout for temporary “No Parking” signs and illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed. If your vehicle is towed from a public street, please call the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222.

Celebrating July 4^th in Arlington County

To ensure a happy and safe celebration, residents and visitors are reminded of the following:

• Alcoholic beverages, grills, and fireworks are prohibited on County and Federal parkland during Independence Day events.
• Non-approved vendors will not be allowed in the area of the US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima).
• Hot and humid conditions are anticipated. Stay hydrated, use sunscreen and seek shade as needed.
• The Washington Metropolitan area, including the entirety of Arlington County, is designated a “no-drone zone” by the Federal Aviation Administration.
• There are no known threats to the area. Our community is safest when everyone is engaged and alert. If you see something, say something® by reporting suspicious behavior to police for investigation.

Arlington County Police will be located at the US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) and Long Bridge Park conducting road closures and providing safety and security at the venues.

Getting Around on July 4^th

Attendees are strongly encouraged to use public or multimodal forms of transportation. The Rosslyn Metro stop on the Orange Line is approximately 5 blocks north of the US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima).

Motorists should expect significant delays, particularly leading up to and after the fireworks display.  The Arlington County Police Department is reminding drivers that stopping or standing in a lane of traffic to observe the fireworks is illegal and violators may be issued a citation. Additionally, parking on the shoulders of Route 110 and Route 50 in both directions is prohibited and will be strictly enforced. Unattended vehicles found in violation will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

Plan for a Sober Ride Home

Each year, Independence Day is celebrated across the Country with family, friends, food, and fireworks. Unfortunately, the festivities turn tragic on the nation’s roadways when drunk drivers take to the streets after the parties end. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 538 people died throughout the United States in motor vehicle crashes over the July 4 holiday period in 2021 (6 p.m. July 2 – 5:59 a.m. on July 6, 2021). Of these fatalities, 39% occurred in alcohol-impaired crashes. If you plan to go out and enjoy the evening with alcohol, make sure you plan ahead with a sober ride home.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) 2023 July 4 SoberRide® program, in partnership with Lyft, will be offered from 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, until 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 5. For additional information on WRAP’s program to ensure area residents have a safe way home on high-risk holidays, visit their website.

Stay Informed

Register for Arlington Alert to receive emergency alerts and other important information from Arlington County Government. In the event of a weather-related emergency or unforeseen circumstance, follow police direction. 

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