U.S. military officials said road repairs after the Army’s 250th anniversary parade could cost $16 million, accounting for one-third of the celebration’s $45 million price tag. The event will include heavy machinery, including Abrams tanks, which Washington, D.C.’s local streets are not built to handle.
What can attendees expect to see?
M1A2 Abrams tanks weigh approximately 140,000 pounds and have tracks made of steel and rubber. There could be a couple dozen driven down Constitution Avenue during the celebration.
Overall, the event is expected to include 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, a Golden Knight parachute demonstration and fireworks.
Who will repair the damage?
Army officials disclosed the estimated costs to news outlets, including NBC News. The Washington, D.C. Mayor’s office isn’t sure how and when the streets will be repaired. It told Straight Arrow News they know nothing more than what’s been reported publicly.
“I remain concerned about it,” Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a recent press conference. “These are, for the most part, local streets. And if they’re rendered unusable, we have to make them usable and then go seek our money from the feds.”
The Army told NBC it would pay for the repairs. Bowser said the Army Corps of Engineers could make the repairs on its own.
“We work really hard to get our roads in the state of good repair and bridges in the state of good repair. And I think there has been time and attention paid to how to move this heavy equipment in a way that doesn’t hurt them,” Bowser added.
Are there plans to mitigate damage?
The Army said it will take precautions to keep the damage to a minimum. Officials said the branch will place steel sheets in areas where tracked vehicles have to make tight turns. They’re also putting new track pads on tanks so the steel isn’t directly touching the asphalt.
The parade will begin on the south side of the Potomac River near Arlington Cemetery before crossing the Memorial Bridge. It will then head up 23rd Street, take a right on Constitution and end at 14th.
A traffic nightmare
The parade route leads toward I-66 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. In other words, it’s a key artery for anyone entering or exiting D.C. from western Maryland or Virginia. If it gets shut down for repairs, it could be a traffic nightmare.
Despite the logistical and infrastructural challenges, Bowser said she expects the parade to be “pretty spectacular.”
“There’s going to be a parade aspect, but don’t lose sight of the fact that a lot of people served in the Army, a lot of families. A lot of people are into aircraft and other equipment,” Bowser said.
Can the public attend?
The parade will take viewers through the history of the Army, from the Revolutionary War, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts. An estimated 200,000 people could attend.
The public can register for tickets at Army250.org.
