Fourth of July Public Safety Preparations

Safety Tips:

Residents should practice the following safety tips during the Fourth of July holiday:

Cooking Safety Tips:

  • Prevent fires by keeping your oven and stove top clean of grease and dust

  • Double check everything is off when you finish

  • Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking

  • Never cook while sleepy, drinking alcohol, taking medication that makes you drowsy

  • Never leave a stovetop or barbeque grill while cooking.

Fireworks Safety Tips:

  • Do not use illegal fireworks.

  • Never allow children to handle fireworks.

  • Always read and follow label directions.

  • Only ignite fireworks outdoors.

  • Always have water or sand nearby to extinguish fireworks after use.

  • Never experiment or attempt to make fireworks.

  • Light fireworks one item at a time.

  • Never relight malfunctioning of dud fireworks.

  • Store fireworks out of the reach of children.

  • Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.

  • Never throw fireworks at another person.

  • Never carry fireworks in your pocket.

  • Stand at least 15 feet from burning cones and fountains.

  • Do not light fireworks near combustibles, such as gasoline, newspapers, etc.

  • Do not ignite fireworks that have been wet and then dried.

  • Do not light fireworks at any place other than the fuse.

  • Only use items that have the label clearly listing the manufacturer’s name, address, and warnings.

Cooling Centers:  

District cooling centers that are traditionally closed on Federal Holidays will remain open on Tuesday, July 4, to provide respite to those in need. To find a cooling center nearest to you or for more information about preventative resources for the hot weather emergency, visit heat.dc.gov.  If you or someone you know needs transportation to a cooling center, please call the shelter hotline at (202) 399-7093. Residents may find their closest cooling center using the District’s interactive map.  

Street Closures 

There are extensive street closures for the Fourth of July Celebration and other events in the city that motorists should take into consideration. You can find an interactive map of all street closures by clicking here. 

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking for the National Independence Day Parade from 4:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.:

  • Pennsylvania Avenue from Constitution Avenue to 3rd Street, NW

  • 3rd Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW

  • 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 6th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 10th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 12th Street from Madison Drive, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 15th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 17th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW

  • 19th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW

  • 20th Street from Virginia Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

  • 20th Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW

  • 21st Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW

  • 22nd Street from Constitution Avenue to C Street, NW

  • 23rd Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW

  • C Street from 21st to Virginia Avenue, NW

  • C Street from 19th to 17th Street, NW

  • D Street from 18th to 17th Street, NW

  • E Street from 20th to 17th Street, NW (east bound lanes only)

  • Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street to Constitution Avenue, NW

  • Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue to Ohio Drive Bridge

  • Parkway Drive NW from Ohio Drive, SW to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW (Zone 5850)

  • Jefferson Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, NW

  • Madison Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, SW

  • Independence Avenue from 17th Street to 3rd Street, SW

  • Maryland Avenue from Independence Avenue to 3rd Street, SW

 

The following streets will be closed for the National Independence Day Parade and fireworks show from 4:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.:

  • Inbound Case Bridge ramp to 12th Street tunnel

  • Jefferson Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, SW

  • Madison Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, NW

  • Independence Avenue from 14th Street to Ohio Drive, SW 

  • C Street from 21st to Virginia Avenue, NW

  • C Street from 18th to 17th Street, NW

  • D Street from 18th to 17th Street, NW

  • E Street from 20th to 17th Street, NW (east bound lanes only)

  • 10th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 12th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

  • 1200 block of Maine Avenue, SW

  • 13th Street from F Street to E Street, NW

  • 14th Street Bridge Inbound, SW (ALL Traffic will remain on E/B I-395)

  • 14th Street Bridge (HOV) Inbound, SW (ALL Traffic will remain on E/B I-395)

  • 14th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

  • 15th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

  • 17th Street from New York Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

  • 18th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

  • 19th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

  • 20th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

  • 21st Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW

  • 23rd Street from Virginia Avenue to Memorial Bridge

  • Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 23rd Street, NW

  • Virginia Avenue from Constitution Avenue, NW to 24th Street, NW

  • Maine Avenue from I-395 W/B to Independence Avenue, SW

  • Southbound Potomac River Freeway exits to Independence Avenue and E Street, NW

  • TR Bridge ramp to Constitution Avenue, NW

  • TR Bridge ramp to Ohio Drive, NW

  • E/B E Street Expressway ramp to E Street, NW

  • E Street Expressway ramp from the TR Bridge

  • Arlington Memorial Bridge

  • Southbound Rock Creek Parkway will be closed at Virginia Avenue, NW

  • Henry Bacon Drive from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW

  • Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue to the Ohio Drive Bridge

  • Parkway Drive from Ohio Drive to the Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW

  • West Basin Drive from Independence Avenue to Ohio Drive, SW

 

The following streets will be closed for the National Independence Day Parade and fireworks show from 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.:

  • 23rd Street from Virginia Avenue to Washington Circle, NW – no southbound traffic

  • 3rd Street from D Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

 

Other Independence Day Event Road Closures Around the District

In addition to events on the National Mall, motorists should expect heavy traffic and delays around other Fourth of July activities taking place in the city:

 

  • The Washington Nationals will host the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park at 1500 South Capitol Street, SE. The baseball game will start at 11:05 a.m.

 

  • The Palisades Citizens Association will host their annual Palisades Parade at 11:00 a.m.

 

The following street will be posted as Emergency No Parking for the Palisades Parade from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.:

·       MacArthur Boulevard from Whitehaven Parkway to Edmunds Place, NW

 

The following street will be closed for the Palisades Parade from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.:

·       MacArthur Boulevard from Whitehaven Parkway to Arizona Avenue, NW

·       Edmunds Place from Sherier Place to MacArthur Boulevard, NW

·       Sherier Place from Edmunds Place to Dana Place, NW

 

  • The Capitol Hill Parade will take place at 10:00 a.m.

 

The following street will be posted as Emergency No Parking for the Capitol Hill Parade from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.:

·       8th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Virginia Avenue, SE

·       D Street from 7th Street to 8th Street, SE

 

The following street will be closed for the Capitol Hill Parade from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.:

·       8th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Virginia Avenue, SE

·       D Street from 7th Street to 8th Street, SE

The 3rd Street Tunnel will remain open for travel into and out of the city.

 

Motorists could encounter delays if operating in the vicinity of these events and may wish to consider alternative routes. The Metropolitan Police Department and the D.C. Department of Transportation also wishes to remind motorists in the vicinity of this event to proceed with caution as increased pedestrian traffic can be anticipated. As always, do not drink and drive.

Motorists are reminded that stopping or standing is prohibited on any city streets or roadways to observe the fireworks. Motorists shall expect to be ticketed and/or towed if found in violation.

For timely traffic information, please visit twitter.com/DCPoliceTraffic. 

Please visit https://www.wmata.com for alternative public transportation options into and out of the city, as well as any metro closures.

Please visit http://home.nps.gov/subjects/nationalmall4th/closures.htm for additional information from National Park Service.

Watercraft Restrictions

The following watercraft restrictions will be in place on the Potomac River from approximately 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 until Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.:

  • There will be a designated anchorage zone north of the 14th Street Bridge on the east side of the Potomac River (West Potomac Park shore side); this zone will be just north of the 14th Street Bridge complex to south of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Anchoring will be allowed until 9:00 am on July 5, 2023.

  • There will be a watercraft safety zone north of the 14th Street Bridge on the east side of the Potomac River (Washington, DC side); this zone will be just north of the entrance to the 14th St Bridge Complex to just north of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. This means no boating, no anchoring.

  • Watercrafts will be allowed to anchor outside of the channel north of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and south of the 14th Street Bridge.

  • There may be intermittent travel restrictions between the 14th Street Bridge and the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge between the hours of 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

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.

ALERTThe Advoc8te4TH OF JULYComment