Update 02/23/16:

Metro has shifted the start time of its track work on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines near Smithsonian station to 10 p.m. But the work will extend to Wednesday night and run from McPherson Square to Federal Center SW, per a notice.

The extension of the work zone is “due to an unexpected power concern.” “In addition to replacing rail, crews will use the time to replace more than 100 third-rail insulators and approximately 2,000 fasteners that hold the rails in place,” Metro explains in its release issued today. “Leak mitigation, drain cleaning and general debris clean up will also occur.”

Original Post

Get ready for some evening delays on Metro next week: The transit authority will replace roughly 400 feet of tracks on the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines near the Smithsonian station on Monday and Tuesday, beginning at 8 p.m. each day.

“Due to the labor-intensive nature of the work, crews will need more time than is available during the overnight hours when the system is closed,” Metro explains in a release. “In addition to replacing rail, crews will use the time to replace more than 100 third-rail insulators and approximately 2,000 fasteners that hold the rails in place. Leak mitigation, drain cleaning, and general debris clean up will also occur.”

The rail work will take place between the Smithsonian and Federal Center SW stations, so Orange and Blue line trains will need to single track. Riders should expect delays of about 15 minutes in both directions, Metro says. On the Silver line, “trains will run between Ballston and Wiehle-Reston East stations only”; riders must transfer to it at the former.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery