D.C. airspace is complicated. Experts say Trump's arch would add one more risk
A proposed 250-foot arch near Washington D.C.'s Reagan National Airport has raised concerns among aviation experts regarding flight safety. While the FAA is conducting a review, critics argue the structure adds unnecessary risk to an already complex and busy airspace.
Why it matters
The project highlights the tension between political infrastructure initiatives and public safety regulations in high-traffic urban corridors.
The Trump administration is eager to press ahead with its proposed 250-foot arch at Memorial Circle, a traffic island on the historic bridge connecting Washington, D.C. to Arlington, Va.
The grassy roundabout is not far from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): An arch would stand just about two aeronautical miles from the airport's main runway, which is one of the busiest in the country .
"An enormous number of airplanes come over that site, basically every 45 to 60 seconds all day long 'til 11 at night," U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, a Democrat who represents that part of Virginia, told NPR. "Just imagine the disaster that could happen with all of these airplanes coming right across a 250-foot-high arch."
Politics Trump's arch may break ground without final approval. Veterans are trying to stop it The Trump administration maintains the arch would not pose an additional risk.
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