“Metro is extending the closure of six stations south of Reagan National Airport” also Potomac Yard station opening delayed until 2023

photo from March 2022 by airbus777

From WMATA:

“Metro is extending the closure of six stations south of Reagan National Airport due to unexpected site conditions and remediation efforts for the future Potomac Yard Station. The announcement today comes three weeks before stations were scheduled to reopen to give our customers time to plan their trips accordingly.

Work to tie-in new tracks to the station, which was slated to conclude on Saturday, Oct. 22, will now end on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Free shuttle bus service will continue to be available to customers through the extension following the same pattern that our customers are using today. Metroway – Potomac Yard line will continue to be free, and parking fees at Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn, and Huntington stations will continue to be waived. Click here to view full travel alternatives.

The complex process to ensure proper signal integration, build and connect new tracks to the future Potomac Yard Station, and complete all safety critical work necessary to operate service started three weeks ago. As site work got underway, crews discovered issues with the underlying soil that affected the structural stability of the ground beneath the tracks. Construction was stopped and a remediation plan was developed and implemented. This work was beyond the initial scope of the tie-in work. Reinforcing the ground below the tracks required removing any work already completed, excavating additional soil beneath 1400 feet of track, and installing new subgrade materials to provide the required stability.

Track construction and integration has now resumed on the site; however, due to the delays the shutdown will be extended for two additional weeks.

Regretfully, Metro announces that the new Potomac Yard Station will not open this calendar year. The delay in completing construction of the station is due to the contractor’s failure to meet the project delivery schedule. Metro will continue to work with the contractor to produce an achievable schedule and will provide an update by the end of this year.

“We are frustrated with these developments on the Potomac Yard Station project,” said Executive Vice President of Capital Delivery Andy Off. “The team has been working around the clock to push the project delivery team to perform in accordance with the schedule. Recently, it has become clear that the published schedule will not be met, unfortunately delaying the opening of this important station. On behalf of our customers and the City of Alexandria, we apologize for this inconvenience. We will continue to work as quickly as possible to deliver a high-quality station, and we are doing everything within our power to move the project forward in a safe and responsible way.”

As always, Metro will continue to work collaboratively with the City of Alexandria and the contractor to resolve these scheduling issues and continue our commitment of transparency to the local community.

Potomac Yard Station will be located at the southern end of National Landing on Metro’s Yellow and Blue lines between the existing Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Rd stations. This project was initiated by the City of Alexandria and will be funded by tax revenues and developer contributions generated by planned new development in the Potomac Yard neighborhood, as well as state grants and loans and regional sources. The station will provide a wide range of benefits for Alexandria and the surrounding communities, including walkable access to regional transportation systems for residents in the northeast area of the city. This will be Metro’s second infill station in the system’s history after NoMa-Gallaudet U Station opened in 2004.”