Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 18, 2010
Metro to conduct rail repairs at Cheverly and replace track circuits to comply with NTSB Safety recommendation, maintain a state of good repair
Nov. 5-7 maintenance work will close Orange Line from Stadium-Armory to New Carrollton, Blue Line also closed between Stadium-Armory and Benning Road
Metro will close the eastern end of the Orange Line between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations and there will be no Blue Line service between the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations from 10 p.m., Friday, Nov. 5, to closing on Sunday, Nov, 7, as the agency undertakes a major rehabilitation and rebuilding project to improve safety, comply with a safety recommendation made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), maintain service reliability and return the area to a state of good repair.
The Minnesota Ave, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations will be closed and no Blue Line trains will operate between the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations. The Benning Road Metrorail station will be remain open. Normal service will resume on Monday, Nov. 8, at 5 a.m.
Orange Line trains will operate between the Vienna-Fairfax-GMU and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations. Blue Line trains will operate in two sections, between the Franconia-Springfield and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations and between the Largo Town Center and Benning Road Metrorail stations.
To help riders get through the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses around the station closures. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
During the first weekend, Metro will make preliminary repairs to the stabilize the ground, the abutment and aerial structure outside the Cheverly Metrorail station because a developer performed work on land adjacent to Metro property that shifted the land and caused movement of Metro’s aerial structure. Metro officials will also install new track circuits outside the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station, to comply with an NTSB safety recommendation. In addition, Metro will conduct several additional projects in the area of the closure to maximize the amount of work to be done while there are no trains in the area.
Throughout the weekend, there will be several events throughout the region that may impact Metrorail riders. The Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards have games at the Verizon Center from Friday through Sunday and on Saturday, Nov. 6, there is a special event at Nationals Park. Metro reminds customers riding or connecting to the Blue and Orange lines who will be attending these events to add at least 40 minutes into their travel time.
From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Metro administrative employees will work at the Stadium Armory, Benning Road, Minnesota Ave, Deanwood, Cheverly, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations to assist customers who need to catch shuttle buses.
To alert customers about this work, Metro will distribute a free brochure, place notices, banners and signs in Metrorail stations, take out paid newspaper advertisements and make train and station system announcements.
The Trip Planner on Metro’s Web site will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780, or visit www.metroopensdoors.com.
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News release issued at 11:45 am, October 18, 2010.