Donald Beyer

“Nearly 70,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day, most of which are from Virginia, and many more pass through the environs on their way through Northern Virginia,” Beyer wrote in the letter, warning the monument could worsen congestion at a key entrance into Washington, D.C.

He also said the arch could interfere with nearby landmarks, including the Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, raising concerns about pedestrian safety and emergency vehicle access in the area.

Beyer requested “traffic studies and any other documentation available regarding plans” from the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service as part of planning for the monument.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior told the Washington Examiner that traffic studies were conducted as part of planning for the arch construction.

“In an effort to increase pedestrian and vehicle safety as well as efficient movement for both, we have conducted detailed traffic modeling and simulations to better understand the impacts of different contemplated traffic flows,” the spokesperson said. “After construction of the Arch, traffic delays will be minimized to the time needed to safely accommodate pedestrian crossings and the flow of traffic.”

The department spokesperson said there are plans to install a pedestrian crossing light for those visiting the arch. Dropping off and picking up visitors from the monument will be prohibited, with cars instead directed to Memorial Avenue.

Trump has championed the monument, sometimes referred to as the “Independence Arch,” as a signature project tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, arguing Washington lacks a monumental ceremonial entrance comparable to iconic arches in European capitals.

A revised design was approved by the fine arts commission despite widespread opposition and objections from preservation groups and Democratic lawmakers.

The latest approved design removed proposed lion statues and an elevated platform but retained a Lady Liberty-style figure atop the granite arch, along with gilded eagles and patriotic inscriptions. The monument would stand roughly opposite Arlington National Cemetery at a busy traffic circle where several major commuter routes converge.

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Beyer’s criticism adds to a growing list of objections surrounding the project. Opponents argue the arch would obstruct the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, disrupt a solemn military landscape, and require congressional authorization because it would be built on federal land.

The project still faces review by the National Capital Planning Commission, which is expected to consider construction approvals in June. Preliminary site testing near Memorial Circle has already begun as the administration pushed to move quickly ahead of the semiquincentennial celebrations.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the Department of the Interior, Department of Transportation, and National Park Service for comment.