Arlington National Cemetery Southern Expansion Project
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), our nation’s most hallowed ground, is the final resting place for nearly 430,000 service members and their eligible dependents. Currently, ANC stands at a crossroads in its history. The cemetery will run out of space for new burials without changes to eligibility by 2041 and, with the Southern Expansion Project, by 2060. In order to significantly extend ANC’s capacity and lifespan as an active cemetery, changes to eligibility criteria and/or expansion of the cemetery’s geographic footprint are required.
The Southern Expansion Project will enable the Army to continue its honored tradition of laying to rest our veterans well into the future. This multi-year series of major construction projects began in September 2021 and is estimated to be completed by the end of 2028. Southern Expansion will add an estimated 50 acres to ANC, which is currently 639 acres. Expansion will add more than 80,000 additional interment opportunities, including above-ground columbarium courts for cremated remains and below-ground cremated and traditional casketed burial spaces.
In addition, Southern Expansion will:
• Enhance the experience of ANC’s millions of visitors by creating a culturally rich, thoughtfully designed corridor that encompasses surrounding memorials, while providing the iconic look and feel of this national shrine. Benefits to visitors include seamless access to the Air Force Memorial, which will be integrated within cemetery grounds.
• Benefit the public and surrounding communities by realigning roadways in the area—which will not only upgrade road safety and capacity but also add sidewalks and bicycle lanes. The Defense Access Road (DAR) Project, administered by the Federal Highways Administration, began construction in fall 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by late summer 2026. The DAR Project will realign Columbia Pike, modify the South Joyce Street intersection and the Columbia Pike/Washington Boulevard (Route 27) interchange, and replace Southgate Road with a new segment of South Nash Street.
• Facilitate ANC’s operations by replacing an office building and a warehouse and adding an Operations Complex, including green-roof maintenance bays for cemetery vehicles.
The Southern Expansion Project includes three distinct phases:
Phase I: Defense Access Road Project
Begun in fall 2021, with estimated completion by end of summer 2026.
Phase II: Operations Complex Construction
Begun in 2023, with estimated completion by late 2026.
Phase III: Cemetery Expansion
Contract awarded spring 2026. Estimated completion late 2028.
Southern Expansion is a complex and ever-evolving project. Please note that estimated completion dates are subject to change.
► Download or print our fact sheet.
History and Significant Milestones, 1998–2021
Plans to expand the cemetery began in 1998, when the ANC Master Plan first identified the former Navy Annex site (now known as the Southern Expansion site) as suitable interment space, due to its location and existing Department of Defense (DoD) ownership. During the ensuing decades—and following extensive public engagement and feedback—efforts to expand the cemetery developed into two combined projects: the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) Defense Access Roads Project (DAR) and Southern Expansion.
2021
• Sept. 14, 2021: Groundbreaking ceremony for Southern Expansion and the Defense Access Road Project.
2016–2018
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Norfolk District, on behalf of ANC, posted to the Federal Register a draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for the Southern Expansion and DAR Projects. The public was invited to review and comment from Aug. 16 through Sept. 22, 2018.
• In July 2017, ANC initiated a survey inviting the public and stakeholders to join a national dialogue on the issue, providing a forum to share ideas, opinions and concerns. This National Dialogue Survey closed in November and generated feedback from approximately 28,000 respondents, who included veterans and service members from all branches of service, as well as military families and the general public. The opportunity for public comment closed in November 2017.
• In the spring of 2016, public information meetings began. These periodic meetings with stakeholders and local community members continued through 2020. ANC also conducted meetings with veterans’ service organizations (VSOs) and military service organizations (MSOs).
► Click here or on the Public Notices tab, at left, to view relevant reports and other public documents.
2000
• The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2000 (Subtitle F § 2881 “Expansion of Arlington National Cemetery, Transfer from Navy Annex”) validated the suitability of the land and required the Secretary of Defense to transfer the Navy Annex property to the Secretary of the Army and to “incorporate the Navy Annex property transferred under [this section] into Arlington National Cemetery.” The NDAA of 2000, and subsequent amendments, provided for the transfer of property and required DoD to remove all improvements from the Navy Annex property to facilitate an expansion.
1998
• The 1998 ANC Master Plan first identified the former Navy Annex site (now known as the Southern Expansion site) as suitable interment space, due to its location and existing Department of Defense (DoD) ownership. This area contained underutilized land which could be made contiguous with the cemetery by realigning roadways.
More Information
• For the latest information about Southern Expansion, please continue checking this website. Use the tabs at left for updates on road closures, news releases, photos and videos of the project, and public notices.
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• Questions? Email us at usarmy.anc.southernexpansion@army.mil.