Weekend Wakeup: Metro delays, festivals galore

Tim Bracken, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Expect major delays on Metro rail this weekend. The Green line will see the worst of the delays with three station closures.

Several festivals and running events are scheduled. These events could affect traffic and add to Metro delays.

There will be also be lots of construction, with on-going overnight closures on I- 66, the Beltway and the I-95/I-395 High Occupancy Vehicle lanes.

Metro update

Significant delays are expected on all Metro lines this weekend. All work begins at 10 p.m. Friday and continues through system closing Sunday. Here’s the update from wmata.com.

Red line

  • Trains will single track between NoMa/Gallaudet U and Fort Totten.
  • Throughout the weekend, Red line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont.
  • Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Shady Grove and NoMa/Gallaudet U stations, resulting in service about every 10 minutes between those stations.
  • Delays of at least 10 minutes are expected.
  • Metro recommends the Green line as an alternate for service between Fort Totten and Gallery Place.

Orange line

  • Buses will replace Orange line trains between Vienna and East Falls Church.
  • Throughout the weekend, Orange line trains will operate between East Falls Church and New Carrollton every 16 minutes.
  • Buses will operate on two routes. Express buses will operate between Vienna and East Falls Church only, while local buses will make intermediate stops at Dunn Loring and West Falls Church stations.

Blue line

  • There is no scheduled track work on the Blue Line, but trains will operate every 16 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center to avoid schedule conflicts with Orange and Yellow line trains.
  • Delays of at least 10 minutes are expected.

Green line

  • Buses will replace Green line trains between Southern Avenue and Branch Avenue.
  • Branch Avenue, Suitland and Naylor Road stations will be closed.
  • Free shuttle buses will operate between Branch Avenue, Suitland, Naylor Road and Southern Avenue stations.
  • Delays of at least 40 minutes are expected.
  • Between Southern Avenue and Greenbelt, Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals.
  • The last train from Southern Avenue to Greenbelt will depart at 2:32 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and at 11:32 p.m. on Sunday.

Yellow line

  • Yellow line trains will single track between Huntington and Braddock Road.
  • Throughout the weekend, Yellow line trains will operate between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square stations every 16 minutes.
  • Customers traveling to/from stations north of Mount Vernon Square should use Green line trains to complete their trip.
  • Delays of at least 10 minutes are expected.

I-66 closure

Overnight roadwork will close all lanes of I-66 westbound between the Dulles Connector Road and Leesburg Pike between 9:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.

Traffic will be diverted onto onto the Dulles Connector Road westbound, then to Route 123 south and the Capital Beltway to continue on I-66.

Beltway construction update

Overnight road work continues on both loops of the Capital Beltway between Interstate 66 and Georgetown Pike. Expect a minimum of two lanes getting by between 9:30 p.m. and 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

After midnight, temporary total closures are possible for up to 30 minutes at a time.

I-95/I-395 HOV closure

Starting at 11 p.m. and continuing through 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday, the Interstate 95 and Interstate 395 High Occupancy Vehicle lanes will be closed between Dumfries Road and Duke Street.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, HOV lanes will reopen in the northbound direction.

New York Avenue construction Rehabilitation efforts continue on New York Avenue, with only a single lane available for travel in both directions between Florida Avenue and 4th Street NE between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday.

SW ArtsFest

The SW ArtsFest kicks of at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Southwest Waterfront area. Expect lots of music performances, food, and art presentations.

Turkish Festival

The 2012 Turkish Festival will be held in front of Freedom Plaza this Sunday. The free festival will feature folk dancing, music performances and even children’s activities.

9/11 Heroes Run

The Shirlington 9/11 Heroes Run is scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday. The course will take runners along Four Mile Run and Arlington Mill Drive between George Mason Drive and I-395. Expect early morning street closures as a result.

Undy 5000

The Undy 5000 race is scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday in Rock Creek Park. Expect closures on Beach Drive and Morrow Drive NW south of Joyce Road. See the course map here.

Sprint Four the Cure

The Sprint Four the Cure race kicks off 8 a.m. Saturday at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown.

Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k

The Prevent Cancer Foundation 5k is scheduled for 8 a.m. Sunday at Nationals Park. Watch for street closures around Nationals Park until noon.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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