Route 27 is near the site of the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon . Many commuters and drivers on the road witnessed the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 fly directly over Route 27 and crash into the Pentagon . Witnesses included Daryl Donley and Steve Riskus , both of whom took some of the first photographs after the plane crashed . As the plane passed over Route 27 , it clipped several light poles ; one light pole landed on the windshield of a taxicab driven by Lloyd England . The section northeast of I-395 was closed for several weeks following the attack as a security measure . When it reopened , " No stopping " signs were placed along the section of Route 27 near the Pentagon . To increase security , the cloverleaf interchange between Route 27 and Columbia Pike was reconfigured , by eliminating the separate loop ramp from eastbound Route 27 to westbound Columbia Pike . The ramp from westbound Columbia Pike to eastbound Route 27 was relocated parallel to Route 27 and the resulting freed area was used to construct a security checkpoint leading to a new Pentagon loading dock . A driveway from the checkpoint runs parallel to Route 27 separated by a high metal fence . However , the Pentagon Memorial still remains visible behind this fence . North of the memorial , a high cement retaining wall and berm has been constructed to protect the Pentagon from any possible explosion threats on Route 27 . These and related security improvements cost $ 35 million ( equivalent to $ in ) and were completed in October 2004 . On September 11 , 2010 , the portion of Route 27 near the crash site was dedicated as " 9/11 Heroes Memorial Highway " after receiving that designation by the State Legislature . Commemorative signs have been added on both sides of the highway
American Airlines Flight 77
American Airlines Flight 77
Virginia State Route 27