Metrorail announces further delays to reopening of Blue and Yellow Line stations in Virginia

The six Blue and Yellow Line Metrorail stations south of the Reagan Nationwide Airport station will probably be closed an additional two weeks, now reopening Nov. 6 as a substitute of Oct. 23, the Washington Metropolitan Space Transit Authority introduced Friday.

The six affected stations in Virginia are the Braddock Street, King St-Outdated City, Eisenhower Ave, Huntington, Van Dorn St and Franconia-Springfield stations. The brand new delays have been attributable to building points for the Potomac Yard station.

The station closures began three weeks in the past together with a “complicated course of to make sure correct sign integration, construct and join new tracks to the longer term Potomac Yard Station, and full all security crucial work,” WMATA stated.

Throughout the work at Potomac Yard, nonetheless, staff discovered points with the soil negatively impacting the structural integrity of the bottom beneath the tracks.

“Reinforcing the bottom beneath the tracks required eradicating any work already accomplished, excavating further soil beneath 1400 ft of monitor, and putting in new subgrade supplies to offer the required stability,” in response to WMATA.

The Potomac Yard station, being constructed between the Reagan Nationwide Airport and Braddock Street stations, has now had its opening delayed till 2023. WMATA blames the contractor engaged on the station for failing to satisfy the supply schedule deliberate for Potomac Yard.

“The workforce has been working across the clock to push the venture supply workforce to carry out in accordance with the schedule. Not too long ago, it has develop into clear that the printed schedule is not going to be met, sadly delaying the opening of this essential station. On behalf of our prospects and the Metropolis of Alexandria, we apologize for this inconvenience,” WMATA Govt Vice President of Capital Supply Andy Off stated.

The town of Alexandria, impacted each by building and by the prolonged station closures, has additionally expressed its displeasure.

“The quite a few delays to the Potomac Yard building venture are unacceptable. This critically essential venture requires extra intentional oversight by WMATA… This newest setback have to be met with urgency and vital actions by WMATA and its contractor to recuperate from the money and time misplaced,” Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson stated.