The National Park Service has released a preliminary assessment for the construction of a 250-foot-high triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial, a project proposed by President Donald Trump to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Construction Plans

According to the assessment, construction of the arch could occur 20 hours per day, year-round, with the goal of completing the project within three years. The project would require tower cranes up to 320 feet tall, forklifts, concrete pump systems, and other equipment.

The National Capital Planning Commission voted to seek more information from the Interior Department, which oversees the park service, essentially keeping the project alive. The commission is seeking more information justifying the proposed height of the arch, as well as additional details about lighting, management of stormwater, and how traffic and parking would be regulated for visitors.

Aviation Concerns

The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing whether the project’s planned height poses a risk to airplane travel in the area. The FAA found no adverse impacts to operations at Reagan Airport from the proposed arch but determined that the top of the structure would need to be lit with red obstruction lights.

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 in federal court to block the project over concerns about disruptions to the sightline.

Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.