By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's proposed 250-foot (76-meter) triumphal arch in Washington won a key approval late Thursday, which could lead to construction beginning quickly on the latest major project in his ‌drive to reshape the US capital.

The National Capital Planning Commission voted to approve the project after hearing from ‌about 100 opponents, including Democratic lawmakers.

"It will snarl traffic for years, impact the nearby airport, and present even more serious threats to public safety that ​this commission has refused to acknowledge and grapple with," said Representative Don Beyer, who represents northern Virginia.

A judge considering several legal challenges could still block the start of construction. But if it gets the go-ahead, the Justice Department has said it expects an initial six to eight months of construction focused on ...