Fencing Going Up, Streets Being Closed for State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON — An “inner-perimeter fence is going up around the U.S. Capitol building and several street closures have been announced in conjunction with President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement Sunday that the fence is being put up “out of an abundance of caution,” in consultation with the Secret Service.

The move comes as officials in Washington prepare for trucker convoys that are planning protests against pandemic restrictions ahead of and after Tuesday’s address. 

The Pentagon has already approved the deployment of 700 unarmed National Guard troops to be used to assist with traffic control during potential demonstrations.

“Our Department’s mission to protect the United States Congress, the Capitol, and the legislative process remains unwavering,” Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in his statement. 

“In light of the upcoming State of the Union Address, and the possibility of demonstrations in the next couple of weeks, we have been working closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners on a security plan to prevent any disruption to the important work of Congress,” he said.

“I have also requested support from outside law enforcement agencies as well as the National Guard to assist with our security precautions. We will continue to update the community about any information that may impact the roads around Capitol Hill,” he concluded.

In September, the U.S. Capitol Police Board approved a plan to briefly reinstall the fence for a rally organized to support people who remained jailed in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, siege on the U.S. Capitol. However, the event fizzled, and law enforcement officers and members of the media vastly outnumbered the protesters on the day of the planned protest.

As for the street closures already announced for Tuesday, these include:

Beginning at 5:30 pm on March 1, the following streets will be closed to traffic:

• East Capitol Street between Second Street, NE/SE and First Street, NE/SE
• Constitution Avenue between Second Street, NE and Louisiana Avenue, NW
• D Street between Second Street, NE and First Street, NE
• First Street between Constitution Avenue, NE and Independence Avenue, SE
• New Jersey Avenue between C Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
• First Street between Louisiana Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW
• Pennsylvania Avenue between First Street, NW and Third Street, NW
• Maryland Avenue between First Street, SW and Third Street, SW
• Independence Avenue between Washington Avenue, SW and Second Street, SE

Beginning at 7:00 pm on March 1, the following streets will be closed to traffic:

• Second Street from Constitution Avenue, NE to East Capitol Street, NE/SE
• First Street from Columbus Circle to D Street, NE
• Delaware Avenue from Columbus Circle to D Street, NE
• D Street from First Street, NE to Louisiana Avenue, NW
• Louisiana Avenue from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• First Street from C Street, NW to Louisiana Avenue, NW
• Constitution Avenue from Third Street, NW to Louisiana Avenue, NW
• Independence Avenue from Third Street, SW to Washington Avenue, SW
• Washington Avenue from Independence Avenue, SW to Second Street, SW

The Capitol Police said Sunday these are the same road closures the department has had in the past and are not related to the potential truck and vehicle convoys.

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