Escalator replacement project will close L’Enfant Plaza north entrance for seven months, beginning May 9
Beginning Monday, May 9, Metro will close the north entrance at L’Enfant Plaza Station at Maryland Ave and Seventh St to replace the three entrance escalators. The entrance will remain closed for approximately seven months. The work is part of a seven-year, $179 million escalator replacement project to install 130 new escalators by 2028.
The project will replace the current escalators with brand-new ones that are more durable and reliable. Construction will require Metro’s contractor, Kone, to close the entrance to remove all three escalators at once and install a new support beam.
During this time, people will still be able to access the station from the two remaining entrances and elevator located at:
- D St. between 6th St & 7th St SW
- L'Enfant Plaza Mall Concourse, 9th St & D St SW
- DOT Courtyard, 7th St & C St SW (Elevator)
Metro’s escalators are custom built to fit each entrance and cannot be purchased off the shelf. The three escalators at the north entrance are more than 39 years old and at the end of their useful life after last undergoing rehabilitation in 2001.
Once the north entrance is complete, Metro will begin work to replace the remaining six entrance escalators at L’Enfant Plaza. Construction is expected to take place from September 2023 – October 2025.
Metro’s latest escalator replacement project kicked off in May 2021 and will deliver brand new escalators to one-third of all Metro stations. The project builds on previous work from 2011-2019 that replaced 145 escalators, improved reliability and slashed the average age of escalators from 27 years to just 11.3 years.
Another 89 escalators throughout the system are also being rehabilitated to “like-new” condition under a separate contract, replacing all the major components such as motors, steps, handrails, and electrical systems. Overall, 517 of the system’s 618 escalators will be replaced or rehabilitated since the program began in 2011.
Additional information can be found on the Escalator, Canopy and Elevator project page. Customers are also encouraged to sign up for MetroAlerts text or email messages to receive project updates and service information or contact Customer Service at 202-637-7000 with additional questions.