Downtown, official D.C. is practically empty this week. But in the blocks east of the White House, evening traffic is a mess.

Pennsylvania Avenue, a main thoroughfare, has been shut down every night for repaving, leaving downtown full of detours.

Why the big project now? Maybe because it's the last bit of calm before January's inaugural parade, which of course goes straight down Pennsylvania Ave. Nobody wants any presidents (outgoing or incoming) getting jarred by a pothole.