An Hour to Go Five Blocks: Inauguration Security Jams Downtown

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Day Two of Mr. Obama in residence at the Hay Adams Hotel near the White House, and this morning, it may have taken as long as an hour for people to drive five blocks up 17th Street from Constitution Avenue.

But word seems to be getting out.

And as far as we can tell now, people seem to be doing their best to steer clear.

Metrobus driver Anthony Sewell had to wade into the mess. Traffic,"was fine, until I got here," he says, locked up in a jam at 17th and H Sts, NW.

One woman tried to drive through the barricade on H St. "I was a little surprised to have to turn there," she said, trying to merge back into a bumper to bumper jam on 17th.

With Pennsylvania Avenue closed, H Street has become a major cross-town route. And now the four blocks of H Street near the Hay Adams are closed too.

"Should have put him in Blair House... canceled the parties," says one driver caught in the mess.

The President-elect's motorcade now stretches almost as long as the President's. The Secret Service has been stopping traffic as Mr. Obama heads to meeting after meeting.
Even pedestrians had to walk around.

But in a city where 92 percent of people voted for Obama, a chance to grab a picture outside the Transition Office on 6th Street was well worth the hassle.

"You talking about a black President of the United States, I'm going to take all the pictures I can," says DC resident Henry Speed, Jr, trying to grab a shot outside the Obama transition office. "I'm taking these pictures to heaven with me."

Be warned. These are likely just the first of many street closures.
We're not expecting to get a look at the traffic plan for the inauguration until sometime in the middle of this week. But it's likely that much of downtown will end up jammed with security for much a good part inaugural week.