“Metro will make repairs to elevated tracks over multiple weekend closures impacting stations on the Blue Orange and Silver lines”

photo by cletuswilson

From WMATA:

“Metro will begin major work this weekend to repair the aerial structures outside Stadium-Armory where the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines intersect. The elevated structures are showing signs of aging after decades of wear and exposure and will undergo repairs during five weekend closures through the end of the year. Work will take place over four weekends between Saturday, Oct. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 12, with an additional weekend closure in December.

Metro has more than 150 elevated structures supporting nearly 20 miles of track, some now nearly 50 years old. The stretch between Stadium-Armory and Minnesota Ave/Benning Road is one of 11 bridges and aerial structures identified by Metro in significant need of rehabilitation and repair.

To accomplish this work, buses will replace trains between Eastern Market and Minnesota Ave/Benning Road, Saturday and Sunday Oct. 14 – 15, continuing the following weekend Oct. 21 – 22. Crews will return to the same location in December. The work will move to the Blue and Silver lines only, between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road the weekends of Nov. 4-5 and Nov. 11- 12.

During the closures,

workers will replace tracks and repair the elevated structures that support them, pour new concrete grout pads, replace rail ties, fasteners, and insulators, and install fiber-optic cables. Additional weekend closures will be necessary next year. Information on those closures will be released once scheduled.

Metro’s aerial structures allow trains to pass over traffic and various types of terrain, while supporting trains that can weigh up to 680,000 pounds running every few minutes and double the weight if two trains are passing at the same time.

Since 2021, Metro’s Aerial Structures Rehabilitation Project has completed work on six of the 11 identified projects, in addition to repairs on the Yellow Line Bridge over the Potomac River as part of the tunnel and bridge rehabilitation project.

Travel alternatives will be provided with free local and express shuttle buses for Blue, Orange and Silver line customers traveling through the area and to the affected stations.

SERVICE INFORMATION:

Blue Line Orange Line Silver Line Buses replace trains between Eastern Market – Minnesota Ave/Benning Road
Oct. 14 – 15 and 21 – 22, Dec. 16-17

Closed Stations: Potomac Ave, Stadium-Armory
Orange Line Trains operate every 12 min between Vienna and Eastern Market; and Minnesota Ave and New Carrollton with normal service after 9:30 p.m.
Free shuttle buses replace trains as follows:
Orange Line Local – Stops at Minnesota Ave, Stadium-Armory, Potomac Ave, and Eastern Market
Orange Line Express – Operates between New Carrollton and Eastern Market
Silver Line Trains operate normal service between Ashburn and Federal Center SW only
Transfer to the Orange or Blue lines to continue trip
Blue Line Trains operate normal service between Franconia-Springfield and Eastern Market; and Benning Road and Downtown Largo
Free shuttle buses replace trains as follows:
Blue Line Local – Stops at Eastern Market, Potomac Ave, Stadium-Armory, and Benning Road
Blue Line Express – Operates between Benning Road and Eastern Market

Blue Line Silver Line Buses replace trains between Stadium-Armory – Addison Road
Nov. 4 – 5 and 11-12

Closed stations: Benning Road, Capitol Heights
Blue Line Trains operate normal service between Franconia-Springfield and Stadium-Armory; and Addison Rd and Downtown Largo
Silver Line Trains operate normal service between Ashburn and Stadium-Armory only.

Free shuttle buses replace trains as follows:
Blue/Silver Line Local – Stops at Stadium-Armory, Benning Road, Capitol Heights, and Addison Road
Blue/Silver Line Express – Operates between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road
Orange Line Trains operate every 12 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton with normal service after 9:30 p.m.”