Southern Expansion: Road Closures and Updates
 

Update: April 4, 2025

Arlington National Cemetery would like to provide an update to the work on the Southern Expansion Project related to Columbia Pike. As you have seen since the beginning of February, utility work has been going on along Columbia Pike. This work has required lane closures during the week. We wanted to inform you that there may be additional weekend lane closures between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for the remainder of the project. 

As always, ANC appreciates your patience and understanding. The DAR/Southern Expansion Project is a complex and large-scale project that will occasionally result in site conditions requiring construction plans to change. We will continue to provide you with significant updates on this page and on our social media @arlingtonnatl. 

Questions? Please contact us at usarmy.anc.southernexpansion@army.mil.

Update: Feb. 21, 2025

Washington Gas utility work will necessitate temporary traffic measures at different points along Columbia Pike, between S. Nash Street and the on-ramp towards VA-27 southbound (located immediately west of Memorial Bridge/overpass). This work is for pipe installation, which began in early-February 2025 and will continue until its completion, estimated as November 2025. 

Motorists and bicyclists may encounter the following temporary roadway conditions:

• Crews will be conducting weekday work during daytime hours, as well as some Saturdays. This effort is an ongoing operation, and small crews will work in segments and move along the corridor. The public should expect to encounter construction signage, drums, cones and/or flaggers. 
• On Columbia Pike, between S. Nash Street and the on-ramp towards VA-27 southbound, crews will be working in the middle of the roadway. The “inside” eastbound and “inside” westbound lanes will temporarily be closed off. However, both eastbound and westbound daytime traffic will be able to safely drive around these crews using thru lanes. Flaggers will manage one lane at a time, for oncoming eastbound and westbound traffic. Please plan for delays.
• Crews will begin work on the on-ramp towards VA-27 (which is accessible from the northside of Columbia Pike). The public will encounter construction and temporary traffic control devices to help guide them.
• Public access to enter and depart the Air Force Memorial will not be restricted by Washington Gas crews. However, in spring 2025, motorists should be aware of slight adjustments when accessing the main entrance.  
• If crews are not finished by the end of their daytime shift, then the trenches will be covered to allow weekday after-hours and weekend traffic to drive over them. 
• Sidewalk users will not encounter closures along the targeted corridor. However, they should be vigilant of possible changes, as guided by construction signage.

Update: Jan. 31, 2025

Utility work will necessitate temporary traffic measures at different points along Columbia Pike between S. Nash Street and the ramp to VA-27. The work will begin on or about Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, and will continue for several months. We will update specific changes to the traffic patterns as they occur, to accommodate the utility construction.

Starting on Feb. 3, the public can expect to encounter the following changes:

•  Lanes on Columbia Pike will split and narrow near the intersection of S. Nash Street and Columbia Pike.

•  There will be a gentle lane shift on the VA-27 on ramp at the east end of Columbia Pike.

Update: Nov. 1, 2024

We would like to provide an update to the work on the Southern Expansion project related to South Nash Street. Work on the retaining wall, along the west side of South Nash Street, is almost complete. On or about Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, the contractor will begin removing sheet piles that were used to support the excavation. They will also be installing sheet piles on the east side of South Nash Street for support of excavation for another retaining wall.

•  Sheet pile work will continue for 8-10 weeks
•  Work will take place 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. each weekday.

Homeowners and businesses in the area can expect some noise and vibration. A monitor is in place to track/monitor safe noise and vibration levels. As always, ANC appreciates your patience and understanding. The DAR/Southern Expansion Project is a complex and large-scale project, which will occasionally result in site conditions that require construction plans to change.

ANC will continue to provide you with significant updates, which can be found on this page. Thank you again for your ongoing understanding.

Update: Oct. 4, 2024

As fall begins and the leaves start to change, the Southern Expansion project also continues to change and progress. Columbia Pike was reopened on Sept. 19, which allowed for the closure of South Nash Street. The following work will begin soon:

•  Sheet pile removal, behind the new retaining wall on the west side of South Nash Street, will start on or about Oct. 14, 2024.

•  The contractor is prepared to start work on a retaining wall on the east side of South Nash Street, at the corner with Columbia Pike. They are planning to begin driving H-piles (steel-bearing piles) for the retaining wall on or about Oct. 14, 2024.

•  This work will continue for 8-12 weeks, with potential for noise impacts between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Update: Sept. 12, 2024

In late September 2024, the portion of Columbia Pike that was permanently relocated will open to traffic. Signage indicating traffic pattern changes will be placed ahead of the reopening to notify the public in advance. The previous Columbia Pike alignment will permanently close and only provide authorized access to Arlington National Cemetery.

Click here for detailed information and a map. 

Update: Aug. 16, 2024

•  Pile driving for the Phase II buildings, at the southern part of the construction site, will begin on or about Aug. 20, 2024, and will continue for approximately one week for the initial test piles. Noise impacts may potentially occur between 7 a.m. and 3:30 pm.

•  Road work on the redirected Columbia Pike is going well. Columbia Pike could be open to vehicular traffic as early as Sept. 16, 2024. We will update you as we have more information about the opening date, as well as any traffic modifications that may result.

Update: April 24, 2024

The contractor began driving sheet piles on April 15, 2024, for the new retaining wall along South Nash Street. We have additional information regarding the schedule for this work moving forward.

•  Sheet pile work will continue until May 17, 2024.
•  Work will take place 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. each weekday.
•  The vibration monitoring system is showing that vibrations are below the threshold.

Homeowners and businesses in the area can expect some noise and vibration. A monitor is in place to track/monitor safe noise and vibration levels. As always, ANC appreciates your patience and understanding. The DAR/Southern Expansion Project is a complex and large-scale project, which will occasionally result in site conditions that require construction plans to change.

ANC will continue to provide you with significant updates, which can be found on this page. Thank you again for your ongoing understanding. 

Update: Feb. 3, 2024

Temporary traffic measures will impact the VA-27 southbound exit/entrance ramp to Columbia Pike. Through mid-February, the public can expect to encounter the following changes:

1. When traveling on VA-27 southbound towards the Columbia Pike exit, motorists may take the off-ramp towards Columbia Pike westbound, or go to the temporary traffic light. The furthest left lane at the light will be closed, and motorists may only turn left onto Columbia Pike eastbound (towards the Pentagon) from this light. They may still get to Columbia Pike westbound via the off-ramp.
2. There will be a gentle lane shift on Columbia Pike, from the VA-27 off-ramp to South Rotary Road, to accommodate utility construction.

Please see the map below for further information. 

As always, ANC appreciates your patience and understanding.  The DAR / Southern Expansion Project is a complex and large-scale project, which will occasionally result in site conditions requiring construction plans be subject to change. ANC will continue to provide you with significant updates.  You can also find these notifications on the main Southern Expansion project web page: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Expansion

Update: Oct. 2, 2023

On or about Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, the public can expect to encounter the following changes in the area around Columbia Pike: 

•   S. Nash Street will be narrowed to two lanes. 

•   Southgate Road, from S. Nash Street to the entrance to the Air Force Memorial driveway, will also be narrowed to two lanes.

•   Southgate Road will remain a four-lane road from Air Force Memorial driveway to S. Joyce Street.

This temporary maintenance of traffic will be in effect until spring 2024. Click the map below to enlarge. 

As always, Arlington National Cemetery appreciates your patience and understanding. The DAR/Southern Expansion Project is a complex and large-scale project. Occasionally, site conditions may require construction plans to change. Please continue to check this page for significant updates.

Update: Sept. 15, 2023

On or about Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, the following changes will affect traffic patterns in the Southern Expansion area:

•   Southgate Road travel lanes between S. Nash Street and S. Ode Street, will shift towards the north. Two-way traffic will be maintained.

•   The sidewalk located on the north side of Southgate Road, between S. Nash Street and S. Ode Street, will remain open.

•   Driveway access for the Foxcroft Terrace Apartment dumpster will remain open. Please avoid parking adjacent to the dumpster during construction.

•   S. Oak Street will be narrowed, between the Foxcroft Terrace Apartment driveway and Southgate Road. Parking will be restricted within this segment.

•   The apartment driveway on South Oak Street will remain operational.

•   Access to the Foxcroft Heights Park will remain open. 

These traffic patterns will be in effect until spring of 2024. Click the map to enlarge. 

Update: Aug. 10, 2023

On or around Aug. 11, 2023, pedestrian routes in the Southern Expansion area will be reconfigured as shown in green and blue on this map: 

•   Southgate Road pedestrian traffic will shift to be closer to the Arlington National Cemetery wall along Southgate Road, as shown in blue. 

•   Southgate Road pedestrians who want to continue south to Columbia Pike via Nash Street, or continue to the Air Force Memorial, will need to cross Southgate Road at the crosswalk located at the temporary vehicle entrance to the Air Force Memorial. This will require pedestrians to use the sidewalk parallel to Southgate Rd along the north side instead of the new pathway along the cemetery wall.  Signs (as shown in orange) will be posted at the decision point.  

This route will be in effect until on or around Apr. 22, 2024.

Update: June 15, 2023

On or about June 19, 2023 there will be several traffic pattern changes and detours that will take place on the roads surrounding the construction supporting Arlington National Cemetery’s Southern Expansion project.  The public can expect to see the following changes:

•    The S. Joyce Street temporary detour road will be closed, and drivers will be moved back onto S. Joyce Street.

•   Northbound S. Joyce Street traffic will be reduced to one lane and shifted to one of the former southbound lanes from Army-Navy Drive to the grassy median just south of Columbia Pike. Southbound S. Joyce Street will be reduced to one lane from the grassy median south of Columbia Pike to Army-Navy Drive. 

•   Pedestrians and bikes can continue to access the S. Joyce Street temporary sidewalk until Aug. 31, 2023. 

Update: May 18, 2023

On or about May 31, 2023, several traffic pattern changes and detours will take place on the roads surrounding the construction supporting Arlington National Cemetery’s Southern Expansion project.  The public can expect to see the following changes:

•   The southbound ramp on Washington Boulevard that connects drivers to westbound Columbia Pike will reopen. 

•   The southbound ramp on Washington Boulevard that connects drivers to eastbound Pentagon South Parking will be closed. Instead, eastbound Pentagon South Parking drivers will be detoured to use the westbound Columbia Pike exit and turn left at the modified intersection with the new temporary traffic signal.

•   Westbound Columbia Pike from South Pentagon Parking to the new temporary traffic signal will be reduced to one lane.  Eastbound Columbia Pike from the new temporary traffic signal to Pentagon South Parking will be reduced to one lane and traffic will be shifted to one of the former westbound lanes.  

These detours are expected to last until at least December 31, 2023. 

On or around Apr. 17, 2023, several traffic pattern changes and detours will take place on the roads surrounding the construction supporting Arlington National Cemetery’s Southern Expansion project. The public can expect to see the following changes:

•   The southbound ramp on Washington Boulevard that connects drivers to eastbound Pentagon South Parking will be modified to intersect Columbia Pike with a new temporary traffic signal. This will allow both westbound and eastbound turns on Columbia Pike, as well as towards Pentagon South Parking.   

•   The southbound ramp on Washington Boulevard that connects drivers to westbound Columbia Pike will be closed. Westbound Columbia Pike drivers will be detoured to the Pentagon South Parking ramp, where the intersection was modified to allow westbound traffic.

These detours are expected to last until at least June 30, 2023.