On July 17, two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Orange Line stations will reopen following the completion of rail replacement and fiber-optics installation between Vienna and Dunn Loring stations.

In total, WMATA’s team installed nearly 25 miles of new rail during this phase of construction, replacing some of the oldest rail in the system to improve safety and reliability.

The work also included 415 new welds to connect the rails together to ensure a smooth ride, and the removal of more than 97,000 linear feet of vegetation from around the stations which keeps the area clear of overgrown plants and brush that could cause an obstruction during a storm.

“Replacing this section of rail was critical to ensuring the Orange Line is safe and reliable for years to come,” said WMATA Chief of Infrastructure Andy Off. “We appreciate our customers’ patience while we completed this important work to improve our system.”

Preparing the Orange Line Stations

In June, WMATA closed four Orange Line stations in Virginia while construction teams worked day and night to replace the original 40-year-old steel rail between Ballston-MU and Vienna. West Falls Church and East Falls Church stations reopened to customers earlier this month.

Summer construction will now move to the Green Line beginning July 22, when WMATA will install fiber-optic cable, replace platform edge lighting, and replace power cables and switch machines. Upgrading the switch machines and installation of the new cables will ensure reliable service for years to come.