Metro delays for Memorial weekend

So far, construction of the Dulles Metrorail extension has meant delays for drivers in Virginia. But the project has advanced to the point where it will be creating some significant obstacles in weekend travel on the Orange Line in May and June.

Work is getting underway on the connection between the new line and the rest of the system.

The Orange Line will be split in two over the Memorial Day weekend in May and the two following weekends in June. There will be no train service between East Falls Church and West Falls Church on those three weekends. On Memorial Day weekend, the split will begin at midnight May 28 and continue through the midnight close May 31. On the next two weekends, the split will occur at midnight on the Fridays and continue through the midnight close on the Sundays.

Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations, but riders going that way should add 30 minutes to their normal travel times.

During the Memorial Day weekend work, the Dulles Metrorail project will be building a pier to the east of the West Falls Church Station, driving piles outside of the right-of-way fence along the I-66 westbound and eastbound lanes and replacing ties on the tracks.