The Department of the Interior has submitted final plans for President Donald Trump’s proposed Triumphal Arch to the National Capital Planning Commission for review, including updated traffic and lighting plans, according to ABC News and the NCPC project summary. The commission is scheduled to review the plans for final approval on Nov. 5, the summary states.
FAA requirements and a night-visible flame
ABC News, citing the NCPC project summary, reports that the design places an “eternal flame” atop a golden winged statue on the 25‑story arch. Interior says the configuration is intended to keep the flame visible from all directions, including at night, while preserving visual comfort for drivers, visitors, and the surrounding environment, per the summary.
ABC News further reports that the Federal Aviation Administration required the flame’s placement so it remains visible to pilots following its safety review. The FAA determined last month the structure would not pose a hazard to aircraft in the area; the agency had initially indicated the arch would require “red obstruction lights,” according to ABC News.
Traffic changes and impact findings
The final plan removes 15 previously proposed traffic signal posts and adjusts circulation routes, the project summary says. Environmental and historical reviews by relevant agencies found no significant impacts, according to the summary.
Separately, ABC News reported that the administration acknowledged last month the arch would have “adverse effects” on setting and views along the Potomac River, but said those impacts “cannot be fully avoided” because the location is “central to the undertaking.”
Location, scale, and construction timeline
The arch would rise on National Park Service land at the foot of Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River, ABC News reports. It would be more than twice the height of the 99‑foot Lincoln Memorial and taller than France’s Arc de Triomphe.
Construction is planned for 20 hours per day over two to three years, according to Interior Department planning documents released earlier this year, as cited by ABC News.
Disputes and unverified security claim
Since its October 2025 announcement, the project has faced legal and other challenges from parties opposing the location and alleging negative effects on the surrounding area, ABC News reports. Last month, Trump wrote on social media that the arch is being built for national security at the Pentagon’s request and would serve as a “top-grade Military Complex.” The Pentagon declined to comment on that claim to ABC News.
What’s next
The NCPC meeting to review the plans for final approval is scheduled for Nov. 5, according to the project summary.
