Capacity Crowd Will Close Checkpoints

Washington Post ^ | January 13, 2009 | Lena H. Sun

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Security officials will count the number of spectators arriving for the inaugural parade, and when the crowd reaches capacity, they will turn people away. Officials warned that could happen well before the parade begins between 2:30 and 3 p.m.

"Once the sidewalks on the north and south side of Pennsylvania Avenue reach capacity, at that point we will close our checkpoints so no more folks can get onto the parade route," said Malcolm Wiley, a spokesman for the Secret Service.

He declined to say how many people would have to arrive to reach capacity. But according to a security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to comment, capacity is expected to be between 280,000 and 300,000. That number will include only those people standing on the sidewalks; it does not include the 5,000 people who have tickets to sit on bleachers along the parade route. Officials estimate that at least 1.5 million and possibly more than 3 million people will attend the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 20.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

What a nightmare!!! DC has become the Forbidden City.

[TexasCajun]

Will this victory celebration, like so many sports celebrations, turn into one big free-for-all?

How will Obamah's 'people' act with the world watching?

[who knows what evil?]

I suspect that the majority of these ‘3 million’ are also big fans of ‘American Idol’.

[who knows what evil?]

How will Obamah's 'people' act with the world watching?

I wonder how many women have been 'selected' to 'faint' on camera during the inauguration?

[JDW11235]

I predict all pomp, but very civil. I think it won’t break out until we start to get off edge, then the ride begins.

[JDW11235]

Or heckle the scene, pretending to be Republicans.

[P8riot]

A couple of my co-workers are in a reserve unit that has been activated to provide security. One of them told me that they expect I-95 to be effectively closed from north of Richmond all the way to Baltimore.

[sirchtruth]

Here in Vermont the local high school band applied to play at the inaugural. They were given a spot, now they're begging everyone to give them $60,000.00 so they can get there!

Yes, $60,000.00. Just like the dems to go get something and then expect everybody else to pay for it!

[Tax-chick]

If roughly 300,000 is the capacity for the parade, what are the other 2,700,000 visitors in the city going to do? Hang out in bars and watch it on TV?

[Riley]

I have a dump-truck coming by this afternoon to drop ten thousand pounds of popcorn in a big pile in the driveway. I wonder if it’ll be enough.

[relictele]

Complete with an emperor.

[SouthDixie]

Same here, only they have to raise $250,000 lol
Flight, lodging and food for 250 High Schoolers.
I doubt they will be attending the Immaculate Inauguration.

[FreedomPoster]

Am I bad for hoping for some serious old-school December-January “football weather”? Snow, or even better, some sleet and freezing rain?

[wolfcreek]

To limit collateral damage?

[bmwcyle]

Forbidden City = Washington DC

Priceless

[Doc Savage]

Come on meteor! Daddy needs a new pair of shoes!

[Doc Savage]

Tiffanys had better double the guard when the looting starts!

[Eye of Unk]

Suspicious construction vehicles shut down DC, could this be the infamous concrete mixer truck bomb?

Pinging Tom Clancy!

[Sig Sauer P220]

Am I bad for hoping for some serious old-school December-January “football weather”? Snow, or even better, some sleet and freezing rain?

I'm hoping for large hailstones.

[MarineMom613]

How much is this whole shebang costing us taxpayers. Or even the Innaugaration committee. Poor taste as many are laid off, lost money in markets etc. This should have been low key.
But what more can you expect from someone who thinks he is the second coming?