Potomac Yard Metro Opening Delayed, Station Closures Extended

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Delays in the preparation work for the Potomac Yard station will cause closures of six Blue and Yellow Line stations around Alexandria to be extended. The Potomac Yard Metro will also not open in 2022 as expected, the transit agency announced.

The six stations — Braddock Road, King Street-Old Town, Eisenhower Avenue, Huntington, Van Dorn Street and Franconia-Springfield — were originally set to have no Metrorail service from Sept. 10 to Oct. 22. Metro is now extending that closure two weeks through Saturday, Nov. 5.

Metro said in a news release free shuttle buses will continue through the extension as well as free Metroway and free parking at the Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn Street and Huntington stations.

The Potomac Yard Metro station had been slated to open in fall 2022. Now Metro confirmed it will not open in 2022, as a soil issue affecting the stability below the tracks is remediated. Metro is working with the contractor on a new project delivery schedule and will have an update by the end of the year.

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson released a statement calling delays to the Potomac Yard Metro project "unacceptable."

"This critically important project requires more intentional oversight by WMATA," said Wilson in a statement. "Our residents and businesses deserve better from our partners. This latest setback must be met with urgency and significant actions by WMATA and its contractor to recover from the time and money lost."

The six stations on the Blue and Yellow Lines were closed to tie in the new Potomac Yard station tracks with the existing Metrorail tracks. According to Metro, work began three weeks ago on signal integration, building and connecting tracks and completing safety work. But crews discovered issues with the underlying soil that impacted the structural stability of the ground below the tracks, leading work to be halted and a remediation plan developed.

To remediate the ground below the tracks, existing work already completed had to be removed. Crews excavated more soil beneath 1,400 feet of tracks and installed new subgrade materials to provide the needed stability. Track construction and connection has resumed.

"The team has been working around the clock to push the project delivery team to perform in accordance with the schedule," said Andy Off, Metro's executive vice president of capital delivery and the former interim general manager. "Recently, it has become clear that the published schedule will not be met, unfortunately delaying the opening of this important station."

The future Potomac Yard Metro station will be between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road stations on the Yellow and Blue Lines. The project will provide added public transit options in the northeast area of the city, particularly for new development being added to the Potomac Yard neighborhood. New development is helping fund the new station, as well as state grants, loans and regional funding sources.

"On behalf of our customers and the City of Alexandria, we apologize for this inconvenience," said Off. "We will continue to work as quickly as possible to deliver a high-quality station, and we are doing everything within our power to move the project forward in a safe and responsible way."

Wilson said in a statement the city government has called for Metro to assess the financial impacts of numerous delays to the project. The city has also provided Metro with recommendations to "more effectively manage the contractor’s efforts to complete this project in an expedited and efficient manner."

Riders can continue to find alternative transportation options including shuttle bus routes on Metro's website.