Alexandria Living Magazine
The eastbound side of King Street will be closed to vehicles Memorial Day weekend.
The last three blocks of King Street near the waterfront have new barriers up, creating a wider sidewalk area along the south (eastbound) side of the street.
Starting at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22, traffic will be prohibited from driving east on King Street past the intersection of South Fairfax Street. The wider sidewalk will remain in place through 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 26.
A lane for westbound vehicular traffic and deliveries will remain open from the waterfront to South Fairfax Street.
This is not a part of a pilot program proposed earlier this year — before the global pandemic arrived in Alexandria. In January, city officials approved a plan for a pilot program to close a portion of King Street to cars on weekends. The program was slated to start in April after outreach to businesses and residents in the area, but the state's stay-at-home order put the plans on hold. This adjustment is not part of that proposal.
This weekend's adjustment is expected to create more room for physical distancing in the neighborhood. Crowded sidewalks, combined with people refusing to wear masks, have concerned many residents as the region tries to keep COVID-19 cases low enough to start reopening closed businesses and parks.
The City is also putting up additional signage to and increasing police presence in the neighborhood this week, as well, to disperse groups of greater than 10 people and to enforce open container rules for take-out drinks.
