Metro’s summer construction project kicked off over the weekend, temporarily shutting down rail service at two well-traveled stations in and around Alexandria for the next three weeks.
Metro shut down rail at the Van Dorn Street station in Alexandria and Franconia-Springfield station in Fairfax County until July 26. The Blue Line will end service at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station for the duration of the project.
Metro is offering free parking at both stations during the closure. Free local and express shuttle service is available at the Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn Street, Eisenhower Avenue and King St-Old Town Metro stations.
The transit agency will also single-track on the Yellow Line between the Huntington and Braddock Rd stations on July 12 (Friday) and 13 (Saturday), and July 19 (Friday) and 20 (Saturday).
“Metro chose a three-week schedule to avoid 10-weekend closures and 10 weeks of early weekday closures,” Metro said.
The multi-phase project includes improvements to stations outside Alexandria. From August 2 to 31, Metro will close Green Line stations at Branch Ave, Suitland, and Naylor Road. Additionally, for two weekends, Aug. 9 and 10 and Aug. 16 and 17, Congress Heights and Southern Avenue will close.
During the closures, construction crews will complete the following:
- Upgrade train control system, replacing an obsolete signal system to serve as a bridge to the next generation signaling system
- Conduct rail improvements including rail renewal, tie replacement, ballast tamping, and grout pad replacement for a better ride
- Install new, brighter tunnel lighting and platform edge lights for better visibility for operators and customers
- Update station signage to improve customer communications
- Perform interior and exterior station repairs and cleaning
- Install 102,000 linear feet of new fiber optic and radio cables for communications upgrades
