DC dry-run for Obama inauguration
By Rodney Jaleco, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau | 01/12/2009 3:04 PM
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WASHINGTON D.C. Planners held a full-scale dress rehearsal for next week’s presidential inauguration activities that featured among others, a mock inaugural address from President-elect Barack Obama’s stand-in.
The rehearsal underscored the meticulous planning and preparation for the Obama-Biden inauguration, that’s expected to draw at least two million people.
That’s on top of about 250,000 people who will get tickets for vantage positions when Pres. Obama and Vice Pres. Joe Biden are sworn into office, and the parade.
Tickets for the 56th Inaugural Parade were being sold on-line for $25. The Presidential Inauguration Committee said more than 13,000 participants in 90 military, musical, cultural and community groups from all over the nation are joining the parade.
About 1,300 groups had reportedly applied to join the inaugural parade.
The rehearsals started before sunrise of a cold and damp morning, which planners said may not be too different from what the capital may experience on Jan. 20.
Weather forecasters don’t see a storm disrupting the historic day’s events.
Nothing is being left to chance, with thousands joining Sunday’s dry-run. Army Staff Sgt. Derrick Brooks stood in for the President-elect, and there were proxies for incoming First Lady Michelle Obama and First Daughters Malia and Shasha.
Not all the roads that are projected to be closed on Jan. 20 were blocked during the rehearsal. But it was also an occasion to practice unprecedented security preparations.
The DC Examiner reported that authorities plan to prohibit cars from traveling on all bridges linking Virginia with the District.
Only buses and authorized vehicles can use the 14th St. Bridge, Roosevelt Bridge and South Capitol St. Bridge. Key Bridge is restricted to mass transit. Memorial Bridge is restricted to pedestrians and emergency vehicles. Chartered buses are banned on Chain Bridge.
There will also be major re-routings in the main road arteries including I-395, the Capital Beltway and I-66 and GW Parkway that link the capital with parts of Maryland.
In the capitol itself, vehicles will be restricted along the stretch of Independence Avenue all the way to K Street NW and Massachusetts Ave.
The National Mall, where many of the spectators will be gathered, will be fenced off and people getting in have to be checked for prohibited items that range from knives to backpacks to umbrellas.
Boats can not sail on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers that lead to the inauguration sites.
Authorities are encouraging people to leave their cars at home, take the Metro or one healthier option, walk or bicycle into the nation’s capital.
