Media Contact:  Karyn Le Blanc, (202) 671-3490

(Washington, DC) Motorists traveling into the District Thursday  (April 17) morning are reminded that the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, a.k.a. South Capitol Street Bridge, and the adjoining access roads to the bridge will be closed from 2 am to 2 pm in anticipation of Pope Benedict XVI’s celebration of mass at National’s Stadium.

In addition to the bridge, the approaches to the bridge on both the east and west side will be closed to vehicular traffic including South Capitol Street, SE from I Street to Potomac Avenue and from the east side of the bridge to Firth Sterling Avenue, SE. Motorists will be detoured to the 11th Street Bridges. VMS and detour signs will line the detour route to aid motorists. DDOT Road Operations Patrol will be out patrolling the corridor in order to rapidly clear any incidents that may occur.

Travelers are encouraged to use alternative transportation which can include Metro, bike or walk, and/or telecommute—if possible. Also, to leave early and/or allow for additional drive time, plan travel routes in advance and please be patient.

The stadium event traffic operations and residential curbside management plan (TOPP) will be in full operation (to view the plan in its entirety, visit www.ddot.dc.gov and click on “Baseball Transportation (TOPP)”). Only vehicles with RPP Zone 6 stickers will be allowed to park in the residential neighborhoods surrounding the stadium. Enforcement will be in full effect and violators will be ticketed and towed.

Residents are also reminded that emergency parking restrictions may be placed in effect in areas not previously anticipated for additional security measures. Residents and visitors are cautioned to monitor street postings, particularly on those streets close to event venues.

The following information is provided on the Archdiocese of Washington website at www.ADW.org.

Getting to the Mass
Ticket holders should arrive at Nationals Park as early as possible as and no later than 8:30 am. Parking near the stadium is nearly non-existent.

Metro: Metro opens at 5:00 am. Exit at the Navy Yard stop (Green Line), one block from Nationals Park. Regular Metro cards may be used, or a commemorative one-day “Mass Pass.” For more information, visit www.wmata.com/papalvisit.