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Published on: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 read more ...

Southern Expansion: Road Closures

southern expansion pedestrian routes

Update: June 25, 2025

A new pedestrian route is in effect around the Southern Expansion Project site. Signs and fencing will guide you. The dashed red line in the above image indicates pedestrian routes. 

•  If you're heading eastbound: Use South Orme Street or South Ode Street from Southgate Road, then turn east on Columbia Pike to reach your destination.

•  If you're heading westbound: Use Columbia Pike heading west, then turn north on South Orme Street or South Ode Street From there, turn west on Southgate Road to reach your destination.

•  For your safety, do not use Southgate Road (between South Ode Street and Old Columbia Pike) as a pedestrian route. This section of the road is now closed.

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 to change. ANC will continue to provide you with significant updates. You can also find these notifications on the Southern Expansion Project web page: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Expansion. 

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

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.