By Brett Zongker
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia is preparing for 2.5 million to 3 million people for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration and may close a major freeway that day to make room for tour bus parking, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said Friday.

No one knows exactly how many people will come to the city, though officials are expecting "a record crowd," Fenty said. The city is preparing for the maximum possible number of people who could fill the National Mall and the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route.

Officials could close the Southeast-Southwest Freeway to accommodate bus parking. That would require the closing of the Roosevelt and 14th Street bridges, major arteries for traffic across the Potomac River between D.C. and Virginia, said City Administrator Dan Tangherlini. If approved, the bridges would be open only to bus traffic and emergency vehicles.

Tangherlini said the city is working to contact the 5,000 independent tour bus companies located east of the Mississippi River to provide instructions for those bringing groups to the Jan. 20 inauguration. The city also established a Web site with instructions at http://bus.dc.gov.

City officials have said they are expecting about 10,000 tour buses to bring groups to the inauguration.

Fenty said the city may close more streets than required by the Secret Service to help provide parking for tour buses and to allow room for pedestrians.

Leading up to Inauguration Day, transportation officials will work to coordinate electronic highway message signs along the Interstate 95 corridor to help drivers navigate heavy traffic in the Washington area.

Also Friday, Fenty signed a law allowing bars and restaurants to stay open 24 hours a day during the inauguration week and to serve alcohol longer than usual — until 4 a.m.

On the Net:

District of Columbia Inauguration Site: http://inauguration.dc.gov/