WASHINGTON — A major escalator replacement project is getting underway at Van Ness station, along Connecticut Avenue.
The west entrance will be closed for the next three years, so riders will have to enter and exit the station from the east entrance on Connecticut.
One escalator from the street level will be replaced, as will three longer escalators into the station.
The longest escalators at Van Ness are 270 feet long.
Metro says the project will replace escalators that are 35 years old, and have exceeded their useful life.
Each escalator replacement will take 40 weeks, including preparation, demolition, construction, installation, and testing.
Metro says it will replace the escalators in succession, rather than all at once, to enable the station to remain open.
Van Ness serves nearly 6.400 passengers on an average weekday.
