Presidential motorcade could bring traffic delays to DC area during Tuesday evening rush hour
Heads up, D.C.-area drivers: President Biden is set to depart the White House en route to a campaign reception in Bethesda, Maryland, which could exacerbate Tuesday evening rush-hour congestion in the D.C. area.
“Motorcades in the D.C. area are a fact of life,” said WTOP traffic reporter Dave Dildine. “Sometimes, the traffic control happens in the blink of an eye with little impact, but sometimes the traffic impacts are more significant.”
Whenever a large motorcade dips onto the suburban highways, the traffic impacts tend to be more pronounced, Dildine said, adding that any traffic queues must be cleared in advance.
Last week, the area saw some of those “significant” traffic impacts during another presidential motorcade. Drivers should be prepared to see the same on Tuesday, though Dildine mentioned circumstances can “change quickly.”
“Like the weather, traffic control for motorcades is only a best guess,” Dildine said. “There is no way to know exactly when and where it will move, or by what means.”
The president’s public schedule lists him as departing the White House at 3:40 p.m., with an expected arrival to the reception at 5 p.m.
The schedule lists his departure time from the reception at 5:45 p.m., arriving back at the White House at 6:05 p.m.
“In the past, state police have elected to hold traffic on the Beltway for lengthy periods of time. Earlier this year, a traffic stoppage on the Inner Loop lasted over an hour,” Dildine said.
He also said Secret Service doesn’t discuss their methods to “maintain operational security,” and that local and state police follow the protective agency’s lead.
“Although the Traffic Center’s concern is helping area drivers, we can’t make assumptions about the motorcade’s movement or risk compromising a Secret Service operation,” Dildine emphasized.