President Donald Trump ‘s proposed 250-foot (76-meter) triumphal arch in Washington won a key approval late Thursday, which could lead to construction beginning quickly on the latest major project in his drive to reshape the US capital.
“It will snarl traffic for years, impact the nearby airport, and present even more serious threats to public safety that this commission has refused to acknowledge and grapple with,” said Representative Don Beyer, who represents northern Virginia.
“It’s right smack in the middle of everything, so very important for our military. The government contends Congress approved the arch more than 100 years ago when it also authorized construction of a bridge across the Potomac River.
But from a beautification standpoint, it’ll be the most beautiful arch in the world,” Trump said. The National Park Service may also issue a permit or other authorization on Thursday, and launch construction this week, the government said in a court filing. At an event on Monday to highlight improvements to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Trump said the arch would also serve as a military asset and would be able to house drones and snipers.
The arch has faced significant opposition in the courts.
The state of Virginia and the District of Columbia sued the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior on Saturday, seeking to halt the start of construction, calling it “legally indefensible” and arguing that Congress has not approved it.
Above-ground construction would start in May 2027 at the earliest, with the job expected to take 33 to 39 months total. A judge considering several legal challenges could still block the start of construction.
But if it gets the go-ahead, the Justice Department has said it expects an initial six to eight months of construction focused on excavation and foundation work could begin this week.
