National Park Service outlines year-round construction plan for proposed Trump arch
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A National Park Service assessment says the 250-foot arch proposed near the Lincoln Memorial could be built in two 10-hour shifts, 20 hours a day, with a target completion time of three years.
The National Park Service released a 24-page preliminary assessment indicating that construction of the 250-foot-high arch planned near the Lincoln Memorial could proceed in two 10-hour shifts each day, totaling 20 hours of work, year-round. The report notes that tower cranes up to 320 feet tall, forklifts, concrete pumps and other equipment would be required, and that officials aim to finish the project within three years.
The National Capital Planning Commission voted to request additional information from the Interior Department, keeping the project under review while it examines potential impacts on air travel, traffic and storm-water management. The commission’s decision followed a public comment period in which about 20 participants, many representing historic and architectural groups, voiced concerns about the arch’s height and visual impact.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has approved the design, though it does not oversee construction or funding. The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting a safety review because the site lies on a flight path near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. An FAA spokesperson said the study found no adverse impact on airport operations but that the structure would need to be equipped with red obstruction lights, and a full aeronautical study will be coordinated with the park service.
Will Scharf, the commission’s chair and former White House staff secretary, argues that a federal height limit of 130 feet should not apply to the arch. Critics, including a group of veterans and a historian, have filed a federal lawsuit claiming the monument would dominate the skyline and disrupt sightlines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized the administration’s handling of the project, writing to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and acting park service director Jessica Bowron that the administration has shown a “persistent lack of transparency” and “disregard for legal process and public interest.”
Funding for the arch is expected to come from a combination of private donations and taxpayer money, though a final cost estimate has not yet been released.