Metro completes major construction at Bethesda, Grosvenor-Strathmore on time, on budget. Red Line stations re-open Monday, Sept. 7

Major construction on the Red Line between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights will conclude this weekend, wrapping up nine weeks of intensive work that began on July 6. Full Red Line service will resume on Monday, Sept. 7, restoring rail service to Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center, and Bethesda stations. Metro completed this phase of work on time and on budget.

"We appreciate our customers and community partners for their patience throughout this project," said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. "This work delivers immediate improvements for customers today at Grosvenor-Strathmore while laying the foundation for a better-connected transit network in the future." 

The summer construction project allowed Metro to complete critical infrastructure improvements while advancing long-term investments that will improve customer experience for decades to come. 

At Bethesda, crews built a new mezzanine structure on the platform in preparation for the Maryland Transit Administration's Purple Line, which is slated to begin service in late 2027. At Grosvenor-Strathmore, customers will find a completely rehabilitated station platform and amenities. Metro also completed aerial structure work along the closed stretch of track.

What this work means for customers:

Improved regional connections: Significant progress was made on Bethesda station's second mezzanine, creating the future connection point between Metro and the Purple Line and creating another customer entry point in the station. The MTA’s 16-mile Purple Line light rail will connect 21 stations across Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Customers will be able to transfer to and from Metro at Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park, and New Carrollton.

The 6,000-square-foot mezzanine includes two new escalators, two new elevators, a new station manager kiosk, and faregates. About 60 tons of steel and 220 cubic yards of concrete were used to build the structure.

No future disruptions: The majority of work requiring extended access to the track area has now been completed. Construction on the Bethesda mezzanine, including the bridge to the elevator banks, will continue behind protective barriers over the next 18 months without requiring additional station closures.

A modern Grosvenor-Strathmore platform: Customers will notice upgraded lighting, new passenger information displays, replaced platform tiles, upgraded station shelters and benches, improved drainage, and rehabilitated platform edges that enhance both safety and the station experience. Crews poured 280 cubic yards of concrete, laid 16,000 square feet of tile, installed 108 new globe lights and 288 new edge lights, six wind shelters, and 26 new digital information screens.

Updated Grosvenor-Strathmore platform with new non-slip tiles, a refurbished granite edge, and new passenger information displays.

New passenger information displays at Grosvenor-Strathmore

In addition to customer-facing improvements, crews completed extensive structural, electrical, and station rehabilitation work throughout the construction zone, taking advantage of the extended shutdown to accomplish work that would have been difficult to complete during normal rail operations.

Metro chose to close the station during the summer after the Fourth of July when ridership tends to be at its lowest. The project was completed in just two months instead of two years of weekend and overnight closures. Customers can learn more about future planned projects at wmata.com/construction.

Metro moved more than 1.2 million customers with free shuttle bus service during construction. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation also created temporary bus lanes during the project to speed up shuttles. MDOT will remove those lanes in the coming days after project completion.

Metro will also close the temporary Park and Ride spaces at Metro’s Western Division Bus Garage covered parking lot at the former Lord & Taylor building.

Metro would like to thank Maggiano's and Bethesda Bagels for donating cookies and bagels that were distributed to customers on the final days of the stations closures as a reflection of our appreciation for customers’ patience during the construction.