Platform reconstruction work underway at Addison Rd and Arlington Cemetery stations

Published: Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Ten days into the 2021 spring shutdown for Metro’s Platform Improvement Project, construction crews are working around-the-clock. Work is being expedited the to minimize customer inconvenience as crews reconstruct the platforms and install new customer experience improvements.

At Addison Rd, half of the platform will be worked on at a time, allowing Silver Line trains to pass through the station while it is closed. Once crews complete construction on the first half of the platform, they’ll move to the second half of the platform and repeat the process.

Arlington Cemetery Station is completely closed with no train service passing through and both platforms are being worked on at the same time. While the construction strategy for each station is different, the process used to reconstruct the platforms remains the same.

Taking a Look at the Construction Process

Preparing for Construction (January 2021)

During the pre-construction phase, which took place in January 2021, crews moved in heavy equipment needed for the project and installed temporary shoring under the existing platform edges to provide support during demolition and subsequent work.

Construction Begins: Platform Demolition (February-March 2021)

Once construction staging was completed and the two stations were closed to customers on February 13, 2021 the project team began the invasive work. The first few days of construction activities consisted of removing eight-foot sections of the existing platform edge by cutting and lifting them onto flatcars. Once removed, at a safe distance large cranes lifted out the sections using steel cable lifting slings. These pieces will then be loaded onto trucks and hauled away.

 Platform demo work at West Falls Church in 2020
Platform demo - West Falls Church (2020)
 Platform demo work at Vienna in 2020
Platform demo - Vienna (2020)
 Platform demo work at Arlington Cemetery in 2021
Platform demo - Arlington Cemetery (2021)

While the cutting and edge demolition work is taking place, crews also remove the existing platform paver tiles. This process entails a combination of robotic jackhammers (called "Brokks") and hand-held jackhammers to chip away the existing paver tile.

PIP Spring 2021Platform tile demo - Addison Rd (2021)

Platform Repair & Rebar Installation (March-April 2021)

After the platform edges are cut and removed, new rebar will be inserted into freshly exposed edges along the entire platform. Crews will then install final formwork necessary to pour concrete for the new permanent edges. After the concrete cures, the final phases of platform repair work begin. This includes laying the new granite platform edge, pouring a new paver tile setting bed, and installing new slip-resistant platform tiles.

 King Street Station concrete pouring
Rebar installation - Braddock Rd (2019)		Granite edge installation at Reagan National Airport
Granite edge installation - Reagan National Airport (2020)		 Tile installation at Reagan National Airport Station
Slip-resistant tile installation - Reagan National Airport (2020)
Customer Experience Improvements Installation (May 2021)

Once the majority of platform reconstruction work is completed, crews can begin the process of installing station improvements including: energy-efficient LED lighting, slip-resistant tiles, stainless-steel platform shelters and larger digital screens to improve customer communication.

Framing for new digital Passenger Information Displays (PIDS) screens is being installed at Van Dorn Street StationInstallation of customer experience improvements - Van Dorn St (2019)

Follow along this spring as we provide various construction updates throughout the entire process. To make sure you receive the latest project news and updates, click here to sign up for email updates, follow Metro on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or check back regularly at wmata.com/platformsprogress.