Washington, D.C.’s District Department of Transportation is urging drivers to take caution or alternative travel means as cherry blossom season is underway in the nation’s capital.
The annual bloom of the cherry blossom trees in Washington started on Friday, and peak bloom this year is set to begin on March 29 and conclude on April 1. Ahead of peak bloom, the DDOT told the Washington Examiner it is expecting a “significant” increase in downtown traffic amid the tourism.
“The heaviest congestion will occur near the Tidal Basin, the National Mall, and surrounding corridors, especially during midday and early evening hours, with weekends seeing the highest volumes,” a DDOT agency spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “Based on prior years and guidance from the National Park Service, visitors should expect road closures, limited parking, and extended travel times throughout the peak bloom period.”
The DDOT is encouraging residents and tourists to use public transportation amid the traffic increase, such as the city’s Metro rail system. The agency also recommended Capital Bikeshare for shorter trips.
People who still intend to drive are encouraged to avoid the Tidal Basin area “whenever possible.” Additionally, drivers are recommended to prepare for extra travel time and remain alert for heavy pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
“Peak bloom can bring more than a million visitors over several days, creating slow-moving traffic and frequent backups,” the spokesperson said.
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The district is hosting a variety of events to celebrate the annual cherry blossom festival, which will conclude on April 12. Some of these events include a kite festival on March 28, a fireworks festival on April 4, and a parade on April 11.
The National Park Service announced in February that Japan is giving the United States 250 new cherry blossom trees to replace those removed during the restoration of the Tidal Basin. The total number of trees gifted ties into the U.S.’s 250th birthday this year.
Sydney Topf contributed to this story.
