Construction Plans Reveal Two-Shift Daily Schedule for Trump Triumphal Arch at Memorial Circle

Federal officials have outlined an intensive construction schedule for President Trump’s proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, calling for round-the-clock operations over a period stretching as long as three years.

Documents filed with the Federal Register this week reveal that the National Park Service is planning for construction work to proceed in two ten-hour shifts daily, totaling twenty hours of activity each day throughout the entire building period. The construction phase itself could extend up to eleven months.

The scale of the undertaking is substantial. According to the National Park Service filing, the project would require the deployment of several tower cranes, forklifts, skid steers, drill rigs, and concrete pumping systems at the site.

President Trump has promoted the monument for several months. The proposed structure would stand 250 feet tall, situated in Memorial Circle at the Virginia approach to Arlington Memorial Bridge. This location places it between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, technically within District of Columbia boundaries despite its position on the Virginia side of the Potomac River.

The height carries symbolic significance. National Park Service documents indicate the 250-foot measurement is intended to commemorate 250 years of American independence. This would make the arch considerably taller than the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial across the bridge. It would also exceed Mexico City’s Plaza de la República, currently the world’s tallest arch, by approximately thirty feet.

Construction materials will differ from many of Washington’s traditional monuments. While structures such as the Lincoln Memorial employ natural stone including marble and limestone, the arch will be built from concrete and finished with granite.

The project will affect traffic patterns on critical transportation routes. Arlington Memorial Bridge, a vital connection between Washington and Virginia, will see westbound traffic reduced from three lanes to two during construction. Both bicycle and pedestrian traffic will experience disruptions. Arlington Boulevard, which borders Arlington National Cemetery, will also be affected.

National Park Service documents indicate that construction will necessitate a series of physical modifications within and around Memorial Circle, which sits directly adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery’s entrance.

The Federal Aviation Administration has completed a preliminary review of the project’s impact on nearby Ronald Reagan National Airport. Career safety experts found no adverse impacts to airport operations, according to an FAA statement issued last week. The agency is conducting a full aeronautical study in coordination with the National Park Service, which serves as the project sponsor.

The FAA feasibility study determined that red obstruction lights will need to be installed on the structure. These safety measures must be designed to avoid penetrating the visual traffic pattern and to prevent interference with airport facilities or navigational and landing aids.

The public comment period for the project remains open through June 15.