US Capitol Police Stepping Up Security Ahead of State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police have been ramping up security for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, including having a non-scalable fence raised around the Capitol grounds.

About a half-dozen large flat-bed trucks bearing sections of fence arrived at the Capitol early Sunday, with more trucks expected as the first sections were put into place.

The president’s State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress is annually considered a national special security event, and this year is no different.

Biden will deliver his address at 9 p.m. Eastern time, at the invitation of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

Among those invited to attend as special guests are the parents of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who was fatally beaten by police in Memphis, Tennessee, in January.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders will deliver the Republican response to the president’s national address.

As is the case each year, officials have been mum on the many details regarding law enforcement’s posture and planning throughout the event and the days preceding it.

As a result, the arrival of the perimeter fencing Sunday morning was the first tell-tale sign of State of the Union activity on the Hill. Fencing was also installed before last year’s State of the Union.

On Saturday, the U.S. Capitol Police announced several temporary road closures that will occur in conjunction with the State of the Union.

At 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, the following roads will be closed to the public:

Pennsylvania Avenue between First Street, NW, and Third Street, NW

Maryland Avenue between First Street, NW, and Third Street, SW

First Street between Constitution Avenue, NW, and Independence Avenue, SW

At 5:30 p.m., the following roads will be closed to the public:

Constitution Avenue between Louisiana Avenue, NW, and Second Street, NE

Independence Avenue between Washington Avenue, SW, and Second Street, SE

First Street between Washington Avenue, SW, and Louisiana Avenue, NW

D Street between First Street, NE, and Second Street, NE

First Street between Independence Avenue, SE, and Constitution Avenue, NE

Maryland Avenue between First Street, NE, and Constitution Avenue, NE

East Capitol Street between First Street and Second Street

New Jersey Avenue between C Street, NW, and Constitution Avenue, NW

At 7:00 p.m., the following roads will be closed to the public:

Second Street between Constitution Avenue, NE, and Independence Avenue, SE

Constitution Avenue between Third Street, NW, and Louisiana Avenue, NW

First Street between C Street, NW, and Louisiana Avenue, NW

Independence Avenue between Third Street, SW, and Washington Avenue, SW

Washington Avenue between Independence Avenue, SW, and C Street, SW

Second Street between Washington Avenue, SW, and C Street, SW

In addition, from 6:30 a.m. until approximately 11:00 p.m., tour buses will be rerouted away from the Capitol Complex.

Dan can be reached at dan@thewellnews.com and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue