Washington , D.C., will see an unprecedented wave of street closures and parking bans this weekend as the city hosts President Donald Trump's birthday celebration and a major UFC fight at the venue known as “The Claw.” Officials say the security perimeter will begin tightening Thursday night, with dozens of arteries shut down and public transit routes rerouted, forcing commuters and visitors to plan ahead.

Thursday night perimeter: 15th Street and Upper Pennsylvania Avenue closed at 10 PM

The first wave of restrictions starts at 10 PM on Thursday, when 15th Street between Upper Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, and Independence Avenue, SW, is sealed off to create a secure buffer around the event site. According to the city’s traffic management plan, Upper Pennsylvania Avenue will also be blocked from 15th to 14th Street, NW, though limited hotel traffic will be permitted.

Friday evening expansion : 23rd Street, Maine Avenue and a suite of downtown corridors shut down

From 6 PM to midnight on Friday, 23rd Street from Constitution Avenue to the Lincoln Memorial Circle and Maine Avenue from Independence Avenue to 12th Street will be closed, further constricting access to the National Mall area. The city’s statement notes that essential deliveries will still be allowed on certain segments of C and E Streets between 17th and 18th Streets, NW.

Weekend-wide shutdown: 22nd to 14th Streets, Pennsylvania Avenue and multiple expressway exits sealed

Starting Friday at 10 PM and lasting until Monday at 6:30 PM, a massive block of streets—including 22nd Street (C Street to Constitution Avenue), 19th Street (E Street to Constitution Avenue), 14th Street (F Street to Independence Avenue),and Pennsylvania Avenue—will be off‑limits. Major highway exits such as the northbound Potomac River Freeway toward E Street and the eastbound I‑66 ramps to the Whitehurst Freeway will also be closed,according to the official traffic advisory.

Parking bans tighten from Friday 6 AM through Monday 6 AM, with immediate towing for violators

Parking restrictions will kick in early Friday morning, covering 17th Street from New York Avenue to Constitution Avenue and several blocks of Constitution, 21st, 18th and 14th Streets. Emergency no‑parking zones will be enforced from 6 AM Sunday to 6 AM Monday, and any vehicle left in these zones faces immediate towing , the city warned.

Unanswered logistics : How will emerggency services navigate the exclusion zone?

The plan leaves open the question of how ambulances and fire trucks will access the densely sealed downtown core if an incident occurs. The source does not specify alternate routes for first responders,and no official comment has been provided on contingency measures.