DC prepares for heavy military vehicles ahead of Army’s 250th birthday parade

WASHINGTON — As Washington prepares to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday with a major parade, crews are already working along the parade route to protect the city’s streets from damage caused by some of the military’s heaviest vehicles .

Near Independence Avenue and Potomac Park Drive, where staging is underway, steel plates have been laid down to reinforce key areas. But more are expected to come, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to prepare and assess for the parade.”

The parade route spans about eight blocks and will last approximately two hours. However, the vehicles themselves — including tanks — will need to enter and exit before and after the event, which has raised concerns about potential damage to D.C. roadways.

To minimize the impact, the Army Corps of Enginee