Airport Check-in: Washington, D.C., gears up for inauguration

ByABC News
January 18, 2009, 11:09 PM

— -- Transportation officials in the Washington, D.C., area are making changes to accommodate massive crowds expected to arrive and depart this week at area airports for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday.

Passengers can expect road closings, ground transportation schedule changes and airport shops operating longer hours.

On Tuesday, motorists will only be able to drive to and from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport via Route 1 in Virginia. Route 66 going eastbound from Dulles International toward Washington will be closed, except for taxis, SuperShuttles, Washington Flyer Coach Service and buses.

Metro will operate additional buses through Wednesday on the B30 Route, which runs from the Greenbelt Metro station in Maryland to Baltimore/Washington Marshall Airport. It will also run more buses for the 5A Route, which connects the Rosslyn Metro station in Arlington, Va., to Dulles International. The 5A and B30 buses will run every 15 to 20 minutes, instead of every 30 minutes, through Wednesday.

At Reagan National, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Cinnabon, Starbucks, T.G.I. Friday's and Legal Sea Foods are some of the restaurants that will operate extended hours or stay open 24 hours. At Dulles, Famous Famiglia, Tequileria, Max & Erma's, Wendy's and others will extend their hours.

Tara Hamilton, a spokeswoman for Washington Dulles and Reagan National airports, says the busiest day will be Wednesday after the inauguration. We "would advise passengers to treat it as a peak travel day," she says.

Atlanta's MLK art exhibit

Check out Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson's permanent exhibit "Legacy of a Dream" that commemorates the work and life of Martin Luther King Jr. Located at Concourse E, the exhibit includes rare family photos; the official permit from King's March on Washington; the suit he wore to his meeting with President Lyndon Johnson; his wristwatch and glasses; and a photo of President Reagan with Coretta Scott King declaring MLK day as a national holiday.