Trump has proposed a structure measuring 250 feet, or about 76 metres, in height (AP photos)
US President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington could see construction begin as early as November 5, according to news agency Associated Press. However, a group of military veterans and an architectural historian are trying to stop the project before work starts. The four have asked a federal judge to block construction, arguing that the administration must first obtain approval from Congress.
November 5 is also the day when the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is expected to consider the project’s final plans. The November 5 timeline became clear after the Justice Department submitted a notice to the court on October 21. The filing followed an earlier direction from Chutkan requiring the government to provide at least 14 days’ notice before beginning construction. The government has pointed to legislation signed by President Calvin Coolidge in 1925, which authorised the construction of Memorial Bridge.
The administration believes that the law also covers the proposed arch because the original plans for the bridge included columns at its end, according to ABC News. Because the chosen location was important to the proposal, it nevertheless maintained that those effects could not be completely avoided.
The department has said that the design could accommodate such a facility. If the commission approves them and the remaining government requirements are completed, construction could begin that same day. The government has outlined several conditions that must be met before work can start. Besides approval from the NCPC, the Interior Department must issue its final decision authorising construction. The National Park Service must also publish the required notification. For those opposing the project, the concern is that construction could begin while the court is still considering the legality of the monument. Their filing argues that the administration has continued preparing for construction rather than waiting for the judicial process to conclude. However, the plans submitted by the Interior Department to the NCPC do not specifically describe the military complex he had mentioned. There are also concerns about how the structure would affect its surroundings. In September, the administration acknowledged that the project would have adverse effects on the setting and views along the Potomac River.
The president has previously suggested that the arch could accommodate security operations involving drones and snipers.