Red Line stations downtown to close during final two weeks of year

Metro will close at least parts of four Red Line stations in downtown Washington, D.C., at various times during the final two weeks of this year to renovate tracks and tunnels that haven’t been renovated in 50 years.

The project, which will reduce Red Line service from Gallery Place to Dupont Circle, will run from Dec. 18 to Dec. 30, during which Metro says ridership has historically been lower than normal. It is also about 40% less. Repairs will extend from Dec. 22 to Union Station until Christmas Eve.

The service suspension comes as the coronavirus pandemic and declining office vacancies have taken a toll on downtown businesses and arts centers. Leaders of the region’s arts and culture organizations were critical of the timing of the construction project, saying it could hinder visitors to the city center during the busiest time of the year.

Metro plans to run free shuttle buses at each affected station to fill the gap in rail service.

Red Line closure threatens busy holiday season for arts organizations and retailers

But Robert Lawrence, owner of Robert Lawrence Jewelers, which has been downtown since 1957, said he doubts the shuttle will be a suitable replacement. He said he was disappointed when Metro announced dates for the project. Now, he said, the feeling is even worse as the reality sinks in as the closure nears.

“The week after Christmas and the first week of January are low ridership weeks,” he says. “We could have done it other weeks where it wouldn’t have caused such an economic blow to downtown.”

Metro officials did not respond to requests for comment Friday, but said they planned the work based on the lowest ridership times of the year, a move that would affect the least number of commuters. Transportation agencies don’t want to move work to January. As D.C. schools reopen, arts groups have proposed.

Metro will close the upper floors of Farragut North and MetroCenter, including both MetroCenter entrances on G Street NW, from Dec. 18 to Dec. 30. His two entrances to the station on 12th Street NW will remain open. Metro Center’s Blue, Orange and Silver lines are not affected. From December 22nd until December 24th, the upper floors of Gallery Place and Judiciary Square Station will be closed.

Workers installed approximately 40,000 feet of fiber-optic cable, replaced concrete grout pads to stabilize the tracks, repaired leaking and deteriorated concrete ceilings, installed platform end lighting, replaced rail fasteners, and installed electrified tracks. The plan is to install insulators to form a barrier between the main rail and the third rail. Ground.

Lawrence said the influx of tourists during the holiday season is critical to business. Without access to Metrorail, his potential customers would “go where they live or go online.”

“I try to keep my head above the ground,” he said. “I hope I can finish next week safely, but I don’t know what will happen.”

Justin George contributed to this report.

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