Washington, D.C. (Sunday, March 22, 2020) –  DC and National Park Service officials are trying to stop the flow of crowds at the Tidal Basin.  Despite calls for persons to practice social distancing, throngs of people keep pouring in around the area to watch the Cherry Blossoms.  Authorities are moving to drastically reduce the crowds by blocking streets to traffic and limiting parking.  Here’s a list of what’s closed and limited in the area.

STREET CLOSURES today from 7am to 8pm

• The Memorial Bridge
• Lincoln Memorial Circle
• Potomac River Freeway (all exits to Ohio Drive and Independence Avenue)
• Rock Creek Parkway/Potomac Parkway Drive between Virginia Avenue and Independence Avenue, SW (to include Ohio Drive, SW)
• Independence Avenue between Ohio Drive and 14^th Street, SW
• 23^rd Street between Constitution Avenue and Lincoln Memorial Circle
• Henry Bacon Drive between Constitution Avenue and Lincoln Memorial Circle
• 17^th Street between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW
• 15^th Street between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW
• Maine Avenue between Independence and 12^th Street, SW
• All vehicular exits to East Potomac Park and West Potomac Park

All street closures and listed times are subject to change based upon prevailing or unexpected conditions.

The public should expect parking restrictions along the street and should be guided by the posted emergency no parking signage.  All vehicles that are parked in violation of the emergency no parking signs will be ticketed and towed.

Individuals and groups will encounter delays in the vicinity of this closure.  To help flatten the curve, officials strongly discourage any Tidal Basin visits because social distancing has not been possible due to visitor volume.

For more information about the District’s coronavirus response, visit coronavirus.dc.gov