Vienna and Dunn Loring stations to reopen Tuesday, marking completion of summer closures for platform reconstruction
Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will reopen on schedule Tuesday, September 8, following their summerlong closure to rebuild and modernize the stations. The reopenings mark the end of summer station closures to reconstruct aging platforms at four Orange Line stations in Virginia.
Tuesday will mark the first time all 91 Metro stations will be open since Metro implemented station closures as part of its pandemic response in March. East Falls Church and West Falls Church opened last month ahead of expectations.
At the conclusion of this summer’s work, Metro will reach a major milestone in the Platform Improvement Project with half of the 20 stations complete.
“Customers can look forward to safer, more convenient stations, whether they are traveling now or looking forward to getting back to their routines as the region recovers from the pandemic,” said General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld. “Construction crews worked quickly and efficiently to complete this massive infrastructure project on time this summer, and we appreciate their hard work as well as the patience of our customers and the Northern Virginia businesses and communities that rely on Metro.”
Customers will benefit from improvements like slip-resistant tiles on the platforms and in the mezzanine areas, stainless-steel platform shelters with charging outlets/ports, additional Passenger Information Display (PIDS) screens, energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the stations, and improved speakers for clearer public announcements and emergency notifications.
Orange Line customers may notice ongoing construction activity even after stations reopen, as Metro's commitment is to restore service on the first day it is safe for customers. Parking restrictions will be in place as construction activity continues into the fall; however, with rail ridership still down significantly due to the pandemic, parking availability is not expected to be an issue.
By the numbers
Highlights of the summer platform work include:
- 118,000 square feet of slip resistant tiles installed – enough to cover 42 tennis courts
- 73,000 feet of new electrical conduit – equal to the distance between the U.S. Capitol and the Tysons Corner Mall
- 381,600 pounds of granite platform edge replaced – heavier than the granite used for the Lincoln Memorial statue
- 210,000 shuttle bus departures – more than all departing flights at Dulles International Airport in 2019
About the Platform Improvement Project
Metro’s Platform Improvement Project aims to rebuild 20 outdoor stations that have deteriorated due to routine wear and tear combined with exposure to weather and de-icing agents. The first six stations were completed in Summer 2019 (Braddock Rd, King St-Old Town, Eisenhower Ave, Huntington, Van Dorn St and Franconia-Springfield). Work to reconstruct Reagan National Airport Station began in early August and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The station is one of a few in the Metro system with three tracks, so the station will remain open during platform reconstruction with one track taken out of service at a time. No major impacts to rail service are anticipated.
More information on Metro’s Platform Improvement Project is available at wmata.com/platforms.