Things to Do and Avoid This Weekend

• WeLoveDC via DCist reports that Cantina Marina’s outdoor deck will be open this weekend because of the beautiful spring weather we’re experiencing.
• Kites of Asia will be taking place at the National Air and Space Museum on Saturday (the event is indoors, but it’s free!).
• The SunTrust National Marathon will make its way through Southwest on Saturday, causing certain street closures. Check out their website for a list of closures.
• DDOT will be closing the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge from 4am – 9am on Sunday to test the swing span.

Update: DDOT has announced there will be a detour route for Circulator service during the marathon on Saturday. Here's a link describing the detour route.

Weekend Events

Marine Corps Marathon: The Marine Corps Marathon will be held on Sunday morning and as a result, several streets will be closed between 4am to 1:30pm according to DDOT, including the following:

• Francis Scott Key Bridge
• Canal Road, NW from M Street to Reservoir Road
• Reservoir Road, NW from MacArthur Blvd. to Canal Road
• MacArthur Blvd., NW from Foxhall Road to Reservoir Road
• Foxhall Road, NW from Canal Road to MacArthur Blvd.
• M Street, NW from Canal Road to Wisconsin Avenue
• Wisconsin Ave, NW from M Street to K Street
• K Street, NW from Wisconsin Avenue to Rock Creek and Potomac Pkwy.
• Rock Creek and Potomac Pkwy., NW from K Street to Independence Ave.
• Memorial Bridge
• West Potomac Park
• East Potomac Park (Access to Golf Course and Tennis Courts will be Available)
• Maine Avenue, SW from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue
• Independence Avenue, SW from Maine Avenue to Ohio Drive
• Ohio Drive, SW between Independence Avenue and Lincoln Circle
• Lincoln Circle from Ohio Drive, SW to Henry Bacon Drive, NW
• 23rd Street, NW from Lincoln Circle to Constitution Avenue
• Constitution Avenue, NW from Henry Bacon Drive to 15th Street
• 15th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• 17th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
• Madison Drive, NW from 15th Street to 3rd Street
• 3rd Street, NW from Pennsylvania Ave, NW to Maryland Ave., SW
• Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 3rd Street to E. Capitol Circle
• 1st Street from Pennsylvania Ave., NW to Maryland Ave., SW
• Maryland Avenue, SW from S. Capitol Circle to 3rd Street
• Jefferson Drive, SW from 3rd Street to 15th Street
• 14th Street, SW from Jefferson Drive to northbound HOV lanes
• HOV lanes from 14th Street, SW to HOV ramp at S. Eads Street

Citywide Candlelight Vigil: Also on Sunday, Mothers of Unsolved Murders (MUM) is planning a candlelight vigil at the site of planned Consolidated Forensic Lab at 415 4th Street from 7-9pm. Construction of the lab was supposed to start this past spring, but it has been delayed due to an improper awarding of a contract to Whiting Turner by the mayor. Above is a photo of the sign at the site of the new forensics lab. The old First District headquarters building is next door to this sign and is still standing several months after it was supposed to be demolished.

National Marathon Route Changed

An alternate route for the Sun Trust National Marathon has been planned, since parts of 9th Street are closed due to construction. Read my post from last month about the changes needed in the route for the National Marathon, which takes place on Saturday, March 21st. See below for the updated marathon map.

Instead of crossing the 9th Street bridge into the SW Waterfront neighborhood, runners will take the I-395 South ramp (SE-SW Freeway) beyond the 9th Street tunnel and then take the Maine Avenue exit. Next, they will make a U-turn onto eastbound Maiden Lane (never heard of this street), then go southbound on 12th Street, which merges with Maine Avenue. Once the runners pass 9th Street, the marathon route returns to its original alignment along Maine Avenue. Representatives from the Greater Washington Sports Alliance will be at tonight's ANC 6D meeting to go over the changes with the commissioners.

National Marathon Route to Change

The 4th Annual SunTrust National Marathon is scheduled for March 21st, where up to 3,000 marathon runners will traverse all four quadrants of the District on a 26.2 mile course. The route map has been set (click map below to see a larger version - from the national marathon website).

There's just one problem...the 9th Street Bridge is closed for a year due to reconstruction, so the event organizers at the Greater Washington Sports Alliance need to find an alternative route into Southwest. Representatives from the sports alliance were supposed to go before ANC 6D last night in order to get approval for street closures along 9th Street, Maine Avenue, P Street, and South Capitol Street, but now they need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new route. Time is not on their side, since the ANC doesn't meet again until March 9th and the race is supposed to be held 12 days after that meeting. The ANC's approval carries weight with the Mayor's Special Events Task Group, which has jurisdiction over special events held in the city, including the marathon. According to the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency's (HSEMA) website, event planners are supposed to meet with the Mayor's Special Events Task Group at least 90 days before an event. It's not clear if a change in the marathon route would mean the sports alliance would need to meet again with the task group. In addition, the event organizers need to get the route approved with the Traffic Control Plan from DDOT and complete an application within 15 business days of the event with MPD. The marathon will most likely still happen, but the course map will definitely have to change.

Update: Lou Holder from the Greater Washington Sports Alliance tells Southwest...TLQTC the following:

Our technical team is currently assessing the 9th St construction project and is devising several alternatives. We don’t anticipate any delays in our permit process as we are working closely with public safety officials to find a solution that works for everyone. Our goal has always been strong jurisdictional support, community engagement, and effective communication to ensure a safe and enjoyable event.

Street Closures for Marine Corps Marathon

The Marine Corps Marathon will be held tomorrow and according to this traffic advisory from DDOT, several streets will be closed, including many in SW. Here are the list of streets that will be closed in SW during the marathon from 4am to as late at 1:30pm:

- West Potomac Park

- East Potomac Park (Access to Golf Course and Tennis Courts will be Available)

- Maine Avenue, SW from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue

- Independence Avenue, SW from Maine Avenue to Ohio Drive

- Ohio Drive, SW between Independence Avenue and Lincoln Circle

- Lincoln Circle from Ohio Drive, SW to 23rd Street, NW

- 23rd Street, NW from Lincoln Circle to Constitution Avenue

- Constitution Avenue, NW from 23rd Street to 15th Street

- 15th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

- 17th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW

- Madison Drive, NW from 14th Street to 3rd Street

- 3rd Street, NW from Pennsylvania Ave, NW to Maryland Ave., SW

- Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 3rd Street to E. Capitol Circle

- 1st Street from Pennsylvania Ave., NW to Maryland Ave., SW

- Maryland Avenue, SW from S. Capitol Circle to 3rd Street

- Jefferson Drive, SW from 3rd Street to 14th Street

- 14th Street, SW from Jefferson Drive to northbound HOV lanes

- HOV lanes from 14th Street, SW to HOV ramp at S. Eads Street