The Trump administration is pushing to complete the construction of a 250-foot-high triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial within three years. The National Park Service has released a preliminary assessment of the project, which would involve intensive, year-round construction with 20 hours of work per day.

Construction Plans

The arch would be built using tower cranes, forklifts, concrete pump systems, and other equipment. The construction would occur in two 10-hour shifts per day, with aviation-required safety lighting incorporated into the design to minimize light emission.

The National Capital Planning Commission has voted to seek more information from the Interior Department, which oversees the park service. The commission is seeking justification for the proposed height of the arch, as well as details on lighting, storm water management, and traffic and parking regulations.

Concerns and Controversies

Critics have argued that the arch would dominate the skyline and disrupt carefully designed views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. A group of veterans and a historian have sued the Trump administration to block the project, citing concerns about disruptions to the sightline.

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut has criticized the administration for its lack of transparency in advancing Trump’s Washington-area construction projects. The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing the project’s planned height to determine if it poses a risk to airplane travel in the area.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.