The U.S. Army will cover the cost of any damages to D.C.-maintained roads as part of next weekend鈥檚 planned military parade, Mayor Muriel Bowser said, but there鈥檚 lingering concern about possible delays in getting reimbursed.
The parade is scheduled for Saturday to honor the 250th birthday of the Army. The event is also planned on the same day as President Donald Trump鈥檚 79th birthday.
While Bowser said at an unrelated event on Monday that the city hasn鈥檛 estimated the cost of potential damage, the military equipment could cause about $16 million in damage to city roads.
鈥淲e hope there鈥檚 no damage,鈥� Bowser said. 鈥淲e know that the Department of the Army is planning their 250th anniversary, that there will be large vehicles, both on the ground and in the air, and I am recommending that D.C. residents look for postings of all the activities that they can engage in. If there鈥檚 damage on our roads, we are going to work to have those damages repaired.鈥�
Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said it is anticipating minimal damage to roads, and all tanks will be fitted with new rubber tracks.
The Army is also planning to use 1-inch-thick steel plates at turning points on the roads 鈥渁s a precautionary measure,鈥� Hagan said.
The parade is estimated to cost millions, and NBC Washington reported the repair figure is included in the cost estimate.
If there is damage to city streets, Bowser said the city will 鈥渨ork with them the way we work with them on all national security events for reimbursement.鈥�
At an event Thursday previewing summer events, Bowser said there鈥檚 been attention paid to moving the equipment in a way that doesn鈥檛 hurt roads, but 鈥淚 remain concerned about it.鈥�
鈥淭hese are, for the most part, local streets, and if they’re rendered unusable, we have to make them usable and then go seek our money from the feds,鈥� Bowser said.
The city, Bowser said, 鈥渨ill try to keep our road network usable, and if we have to fix something, we will seek reimbursement from the feds.鈥�
Bowser said she doesn鈥檛 know what her plans are, but she would 鈥渄efinitely go to the Army 250.鈥�
The event, Bowser said, is shaping up to be a 鈥渕assive air show and display of equipment.鈥� She compared it to Truck Touch, a D.C. event that allows kids to climb in snow plows or inside the D.C. police helicopter.
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