Metro Station Shutdowns Planned Over Summer 2023 In Northern Virginia

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Metro has announced shutdowns planned for summer 2023 that will impact Northern Virginia riders on the Orange and Silver Lines.

Metro said in a news release that it will utilize "lower ridership months in the summer" to complete maintenance and infrastructure projects. The major work being advanced over the summer includes a completing a station roofing project on the Orange Line in DC and Maryland in coordination with PEPCO, replacing 30 miles of steel rail where it is most prone to breakage, fiber-optic cable installation, updating customer information displays on platforms in the downtown transfer stations, and beginning escalator replacement and elevator work at the Dupont Circle Station north entrance.

The work will prompt four service changes, two of which are in Northern Virginia.

From June 3 to June 26, there will be a shutdown on the Orange and Silver Lines between Ballston and the Vienna (Orange Line) and McLean (Silver Line) stations. Then, another shutdown will follow from June 27 to July 17 on the Orange Line between the West Falls Church and Vienna stations.

The two-phase shutdown is related to replacing steel rail "that has become significantly more susceptible to rail breaks than rail in any other part of the system," according to Metro. The transit agency identified this area of Metro tracks to be a top priority for replacement. Crews will also work on replacing old copper cables with fiber-optic cable to improve radio, signal, and train communication technology.

"Continued maintenance work is essential to safe and reliable rail service," said Andy Off, Metro's executive vice president of infrastructure, in a statement. "We are working strategically to target maintenance locations and minimize the impacts on customers as we conduct this critical work to upgrade systems, improve reliability, and modernize station facilities."

Another service disruption is planned on the other end of the Orange Line. From May 12 to 22, single tracking will occur between the Stadium-Armory and Cheverly stations to allow Pepco to de-energize power transmission lines.

The other shutdown will be between July 22 and Sept. 4 from Fort Totten to Greenbelt on the Green Line in DC and Maryland for fiber-optic cable installation.

Alternate transportation options during the shutdowns, including shuttle buses, will be announced by Metro at a later time.

Work to add new passenger information displays at Metro Center, Gallery Place, and L’Enfant Plaza in downtown DC will not require closures. The escalator and elevator work at Dupont Circle's north entrance will likely begin in late July or early August. During the first phase, one elevator and one escalator will be replaced, leaving one up and down escalator each available to riders. During the second phase, the remaining two escalators will be replaced, leaving the new escalator and upgraded elevator with additional capacity open.

The summer shutdowns will follow the anticipated completion of the Yellow Line bridge and tunnel work, which is shutting down service between Pentagon and L'Enfant Plaza from Sept. 10, 2022 to May 2023. Metro is also expected to open its Potomac Yard Metro station on the Yellow and Blue Lines in Alexandria in May 2023.