Trump's giant arch plan would require 20-hour workdays
A proposed 76-meter Triumphal Arch championed as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's vision for celebrating America's 250th anniversary would require construction crews to work up to 20 hours a day, year-round, for as long as three years, according to newly released planning documents, Qazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
The project, outlined in a June 2026 assessment prepared by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), would place the massive monument at Memorial Circle, the ceremonial gateway between Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington National Cemetery.
The arch is intended to commemorate 250 years of American independence and support the goals of Trump's executive order on beautifying Washington, D.C. It would feature a granite-clad reinforced concrete design, a winged figure at its summit, eagle sculptures, exhibition space, an observation deck, and potentially a café and gift shop.
According to the report, construction would unfold in seven phases over roughly two to three years. Work would take place in two 10-hour shifts every day throughout the construction period. Major equipment would include tower cranes reaching up to 97 meters, drill rigs, forklifts, concrete pumps, and other heavy machinery.
The project would require extensive excavation and foundation work. Engineers plan to install deep caissons reaching about 23 meters to bedrock, while approximately 1,400 truckloads of soil would be removed and around 400 truckloads of engineered fill brought to the site. Daily trucking activity is expected to involve 20 to 30 trucks carrying between 80 and 100 loads.
Construction would also significantly affect traffic around Memorial Circle. The south side of the circle is expected to remain closed for much of the project, with several traffic movements restricted and westbound traffic on Arlington Memorial Bridge reduced to two lanes. Temporary pedestrian and bicycle detours would also be implemented.
While the NPS says the monument would create a new ceremonial landmark and viewing platform, the agency's own assessment concludes that the project would adversely affect numerous historic sites and cultural landscapes. Among the locations identified as facing significant impacts are the Memorial Avenue Corridor, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington House, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall, and several other nationally significant historic properties. The report states that the arch would alter established views, landscape relationships, and the historic character of the monumental corridor linking Washington and Arlington.
The assessment also notes that the construction area may contain archaeologically sensitive deposits buried beneath fill placed during the early 20th century, potentially requiring additional investigations before work proceeds.
The proposal is currently undergoing the federal historic preservation review process, with consultations involving preservation authorities, tribal nations, and other stakeholders.
Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported on the new details for Trump’s Triumphal Arch.
