Expect Road Closures As Peace Walk Passes Through Alexandria Monday

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The "Walk for Peace" pilgrimage, featuring Buddhist monks traveling from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., is scheduled to pass through Alexandria on Monday, February 9. The Alexandria Police Department will conduct rolling road closures to ensure the safety of participants and spectators along the route.

Traffic along the monks' walking route will be impacted. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and seek alternate travel routes. Intermittent lane closures are anticipated along George Washington Parkway, and delays are expected. Event timing is approximate and may adjust based on the monks’ pace, health, and any unscheduled stops.

Nineteen monks — and their dog Aloka — began their walk on Oct. 26 from Forth Worth, Texas, and are expected to arrive on Feb. 10 at the nation's Capitol. The 2,300-mile venture has been dubbed the "Walk for Peace."

You can view the route on their live map and check their schedule on the Walk for Peace Facebook page.

The Walk for Peace is expected to enter Alexandria at about 9 a.m. Monday. The group will proceed northbound along South Washington Street through Old Town to Christ Church. Rolling closures are anticipated to begin around 9 a.m. and continue until about 2 p.m.

Additional road closures will be in effect to support a Peace Talk at Christ Church. These closures will run from roughly 6:15 a.m. until 2 p.m. and include Cameron Street between Washington Street and Alfred Street, and Columbus Street between King Street and Queen Street.

Following a brief rest and lunch break, the monks will address attendees at Christ Church, 118 N. Washington St., at about noon. Members of the public are welcome to gather outside Christ Church to listen. Remarks are expected to last between 45 minutes and one hour.

Spectator Reminders

• Follow all directions provided by law enforcement officers and event coordinators.
• Stay on sidewalks and out of roadways at all times.
• Stand calmly along the route and observe quietly.
• Remain in place and do not walk alongside or trail the monks.
• Refrain from approaching, touching, or stepping in front of the monks.
• Maintain a respectful distance and allow the monks to initiate any interaction.

Event timing is approximate and may adjust throughout the day based on the monks’ pace, health and well-being, and any unscheduled rest or reflection stops.

In addition, the following road closures will be in effect to support the Peace Talk at Christ Church from about 6:15 a.m. until 2 p.m.:

• Cameron Street between Washington Street and Alfred Street
• Columbus Street between King Street and Queen Street

Route

• Enter Alexandria at the City line at the 1200 block of S. Washington St.
• Continue on Northbound S. Washington St. through Old Town to Christ Church
• Christ Church (Cameron St. & N. Washington St.) A peace talk will be held at Christ Church, 118 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA, 22314. Following a brief rest and lunch break, the monks will address attendees at approximately 12 p.m. This time is fluid based on the Monks’ walking pace, rest needs, and any unscheduled stops.
• Members of the public are welcome to gather outside Christ Church to listen to the monks’ message of peace. Remarks are expected to last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. No additional public events are planned to follow the conclusion of the remarks.
• North on N. Washington Street from Christ Church
• West on Montgomery St.
• North on Route 1/N. Patrick St. To S. Glebe Rd.
• Departing Alexandria, the group will continue into Arlington County via Route 1.

Parking & Delivery Considerations

• Vehicles parked within impacted areas may not be able to move during the event window.
• Vehicles unable to move due to weather-related conditions will not be ticketed or towed.