Roads surrounding the National Mall will be closed and Metro’s Blue Line shut down Tuesday ahead of the “Concert for Valor,” a star-studded Veterans Day event expected to draw up to 800,000 spectators to performances by musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Underwood, Metallica and Rihanna.
The three-hour, free HBO-sponsored concert takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, though for those either unwilling to brave the crowds or unable to make the event, the pay-cable network will be airing the concert live.
The concert’s full lineup also includes performances by the Black Keys, Dave Grohl, Eminem, Jennifer Hudson, Jessie J and the Zac Brown Band.
On its Web page for the event, HBO states the patriotic concert is meant to honor veterans and active-duty servicemen and women. The Web page also directs visitors to organizations accepting donations to provide aid for veterans and promises that 100 percent of money raised through the concert will be donated to organizations that benefit veterans.
Beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday, thoroughfares that cross the National Mall from 3rd Street Northwest to 17th Street Northwest and roads that line the Mall, including Constitution and Independence avenues, will be closed. Roads will reopen after the event.
Metro will not be running any Blue Line trains Tuesday, instead opting to run more frequent Yellow Line trains and a free shuttle service offering rides from the Pentagon and Rosslyn stations to Arlington National Cemetery. The Smithsonian Metro station will also be closed throughout the day.
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Metro will operate until midnight, or longer if need be, to accommodate concertgoers.
Officials note that the crowds could be larger for Tuesday’s concert than for recent July 4 celebrations or presidential inauguration events.
Security is expected to be heightened at the high-profile event, Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump said, adding that police have not received any information regarding specific threats to the concert.
“As with any major event, the Metropolitan Police Department works closely with our law enforcement and city partners to plan and deploy resources accordingly,” Ms. Crump said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies in the nation’s capital will work in conjunction to provide security, and concert attendees will be subject to screenings at entrance points on the Mall.
“We will have enhanced security measures in place to complement the multiple levels of security routinely in place,” said Lt. Kimberly Schneider, spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police.
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As such, attendees will be banned from bringing a number of items into the secure concert area, including bicycles, hard-shelled coolers, chairs or tables, fireworks, alcohol or weapons of any kind. Concertgoers will be able to begin entering through the security checkpoints beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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