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Improving roads and multi-use trails around the National Mall

Map showing work on the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, Independence Avenue SW, 17th Street, East Basin Drive, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, along 15th Street, and at crosswalks to be built near the DC War/MLK Memorials and Constitution Ave.
Construction work planned around the National Mall.

NPS

The National Park Service is making improvements to roads, multi-use trails and crosswalks around the National Mall. The work will improve accessibility and safety and help the NPS implement our paved trails plan by making new connections and enhancing existing pedestrian and bicycle travel routes.

Read here to learn about the improvements and how our work may affect your visit to the National Mall.
Person walks with child in stroller, two bicyclists stopped on sidewalk, and person walking.
Improving multi-use trails & crosswalks

See renderings of new trails and detour maps

Construction workers operate testing equipment on road overpass bridge.
Improving roads

See a map and read hours of work

Roadwork

Drivers should expect construction on several roads around the National Mall. The work is scheduled to happen mostly during off-peak hours. This means drivers should expect intermittent lane closures. The work will happen on:
  • Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway between the Virginia Avenue NW and Parkway Drive NW.
  • Eastbound Independence Avenue SW between 23rd Street SW and 15th Street SW.

  • 17th Street between Independence Avenue SW and Constitution Avenue NW.

Read more about roadwork.

Detour route shown on Virginia Avenue NW and 23rd Street NW.
While construction is happening, please follow our 1.3 mile detour along Virginia Avenue NW and 23rd Street NW.

Multi-use trail and crosswalk improvements

To improve bicyclist and pedestrian safety and accessibility, the National Park Service will improve:

1.5 miles of multi-use trails

  • Rock Creek Trail next to the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway between Virginia Avenue NW and Parkway Drive NW.
    • We are increasing this trail's width from 8-10 feet to 10-14 feet.
  • West Potomac Park multi-use trail next to Ohio Drive SW between Independence Avenue SW and Inlet Bridge (Geroge Mason Memorial).

  • A new, dedicated pedestrian and bicyclist tunnel through the Theodore Roosevelt (I-66) Bridge.


The National Park Service will also partner with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to construct:

2 completely new crosswalks

  • Crossing Independence Avenue SW between the Martin Luther King Junior and DC War Memorials.

  • Crossing Constitution Avenue NW at 18th Street NW.

An extension of the 15th Street Cycletrack between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and East Basin Drive SW

Read more about paved multi-use trail and crosswalk work.

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    National Mall and Memorial Parks

    Last updated: August 31, 2021