Road closures in DC expected to snarl traffic ahead of UFC fight: What to know
Washington, D.C., is bracing for a weekend of road closures, security checkpoints, and heightened law enforcement presence ahead of UFC’s Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn.
The main fight is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday, June 14, with President Donald Trump expected to attend as part of the festivities surrounding his 80th birthday and Flag Day. A military flyover and other ceremonial events are also planned during the weekend.
The security operation begins Thursday morning, when emergency no-parking restrictions take effect around the White House complex and portions of downtown Washington. Beginning Thursday night, authorities will close several roads surrounding the executive mansion, including stretches of Constitution Avenue and key north-south corridors near the White House.
The footprint expands on Friday, with additional closures affecting areas around the Lincoln Memorial, Memorial Bridge, Independence Avenue, and portions of the National Mall. By Friday night, restrictions will spread farther across downtown, encompassing parts of Pennsylvania Avenue, Constitution Avenue, and numerous streets between the White House and the mall.
More closures take effect Saturday, including roads near the White House, federal office buildings, and major commuter routes entering the city. Officials also warned that several streets near the National Mall could face intermittent closures throughout the weekend for public safety.
Ahead of Sunday’s fights, the UFC will hold a ceremonial weigh-in on the Ellipse Saturday evening.
Additional traffic restrictions will take effect on Sunday around the White House and nearby downtown corridors as spectators arrive for the event and surrounding festivities.
Federal and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating security for the weekend. U.S. Secret Service officials said hundreds of officers, drones, and tactical teams will be deployed, along with what officials described as additional “unseen resources.”
What to know about the Freedom 250 UFC fight on the White House lawn
A live watch party on the Ellipse will include TSA-style security screening, and attendees will be limited to small clutch bags. Most road closures and parking restrictions are expected to be lifted by Monday evening.
A map released by D.C. officials shows the security perimeter stretching well beyond the White House grounds, with impacts expected across much of downtown Washington throughout the weekend.
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