Early rush hour on Penn Ave. SE

The District Department of transportation changed the traffic pattern on Pennsylvania Avenue SE at noon to accommodate people leaving the District. This is the latest from DDOT:

Pennsylvania Avenue, through the construction zone east of the Sousa Bridge, will be configured with two lanes of eastbound traffic and one lane of westbound traffic, from noon to 7 p.m. today. After 7 p.m., the travel lanes will be switched back to their normal configuration with two lanes inbound and one lane outbound.

On Sunday, July 4, at 7 p.m., the traffic patterns will change again - with one lane westbound and two lanes eastbound to accommodate visitors leaving the city after the fireworks. This traffic pattern will remain in place until rush hour Monday morning.

DDOT has also instructed contractors to suspend lane closures on road construction projects though noon Tuesday,