Major Delay Possible To Metro Silver Line Expansion: Report

Problems with the expansion of Metro's Silver Line out past Reston and Herndon to Ashburn may delay the opening of the station, according to a report.

The Washington Business Journal reports that several critical fixes and repairs need to be made in order for the Ashburn station to open next summer, including issues with track cross-levels and gravel around the tracks.

Metro hopes to open the station by July 2020, but Metro board member Michael Goldman called the list of things that need to be fixed a "dark and foreboding cloud" over that planned opening, WBJ reported.

The Silver Line Phase 2 project has certainly struggled in recent months.

NBC Washington's Adam Tuss reported earlier this month that the sealant to coat concrete panels at the new Silver Line stations failed in recent tests, meaning the sealant was not always effective.

Metro's Silver Line Phase 2 expansion, which would extend Metro's reach to Reston Town Center, Herndon, Dulles Airport, and beyond -- was already not set to open until late 2020, and this latest report indicates that more delays are possible.

BREAKING - more bad news for Metro’s Silver Line Phase 2 - News4 has learned that the sealant to coat troubled concrete panels FAILED some recent tests - meaning the sealant as applied was not effective in all cases. @nbcwashington #wmata pic.twitter.com/80V2A6tpwW
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) September 6, 2019

The Washington Post reported earlier this summer that due to ongoing problems with Phase 2 of the $5.8 billion Silver Line project, trains that originally were expected to begin running in January may not be open for business until mid-to-late 2020.

Phase 1 ended up going $220 million over budget, but officials thought the second phase of the project would go smoother thanks to lessons learned from Phase 1 and not nearly as many obstacles, like boring a tunnel in the middle of Tysons, the Post noted.

However, problems continue to crop up with the project, like cracks in concrete, bad rail ties, and a platform that had to be redone. In one case, a subcontractor was criminally charged.

WTOP reported last month that the contractor responsible for building a new rail yard near Dulles Airport has seen their schedule slip 67 days over the past month, meaning substantial completion of the Silver Line Phase 2 won't happen until late July 2020.

The rail yard and mainline tracks both must be complete for Metro to accept the rail project, which means the soonest the Silver Line Phase 2 Metro stations could open for business would be September or October 2020 if nothing changes.