Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) sent a letter to Trump administration officials on Wednesday, in which he raised concerns about how President Donald Trump’s planned triumphal arch would affect traffic flow into the nation’s capital. The design plans for the 250-foot arch to be located on Columbia Island at Memorial Circle, bordering the Virginia side of the Potomac, were approved last week by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.In his letter, Beyer argued that the planned structure, which will sit adjacent to Arlington Memorial Bridge, risks choking traffic for commuters entering the District from Virginia, particularly during rush hour and major public events.
“Nearly 70,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day, most of which are from Virginia, and many more pass through the environs on their way through Northern Virginia,” Beyer wrote in the letter, warning the monument could worsen congestion at a key entrance into Washington, D.C.
He also said the arch could interfere with nearby landmarks, including the Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, raising concerns about pedestrian safety and emergency vehicle access in the area.
Beyer requested “traffic studies and any other documentation available regarding plans” from the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service as part of planning for the monument.
