Metro’s Platform Improvement Project recently hit a major milestone: granite edges have now been placed on the platforms at all four Orange Line stations. Placing the granite edges is no small feat, with the stations requiring a total of 720 individual 530-pound granite pieces to line the edges of the platforms. With the granite edges in place, construction crews can focus on pouring the topping slab (the layer of concrete below the tiles) and installing the new slip-resistant tiles on the platforms.

In addition to rebuilding the platforms, crews are also cleaning the stations. Station cleaning is nearly finished, with more than 300,000 square feet of concrete cleaned to date. Mezzanine tile installation is well underway at each of the stations, and all the granite platform edges have been installed on the platforms. Crews have nearly finished installing electrical conduit at all the stations and are continuing to install fire alarm and communications systems, as well as new and improved speaker systems for clearer announcements. Here are some additional highlights from the work that took place at the four Orange Line stations over the past two weeks.

Vienna

At Vienna, mezzanine tile installation is more than halfway finished, with all the tiles in the station’s north side pedestrian bridge installed. The installation of new elevator cladding has been completed, and crews are continuing to assemble and install skylight frames for the station’s roof. Crews are also continuing to install conduit and electrical wire in the mezzanine and platform areas for improved communications systems.

Vienna – Putting together skylight frames for the station’s roof.

Dunn Loring

At Dunn Loring, crews are continuing to repair cracks in the track wall and have completed the lower half of the station’s skylight framing. On the platform, crews are prepping for the concrete topping slab to be placed and have started pulling electrical wire into the pylon frames. Crews are also continuing installation of new, slip-resistant tile in the mezzanine area.

Dunn Loring – Prepping the platform for the topping slab (left). View underneath the rebuilt concrete platform edge (right).    

West Falls Church

At West Falls Church, crews have finished placing the concrete topping slab on both platforms, as well as finished the installation of the slip-resistant tile on the station’s south platform. Crews are continuing to put together the frames for the skylights and have started installing glass for the station’s north mezzanine skylight. They have completed the installation of electrical conduit in both platforms and the mezzanine and are continuing to install electrical wiring and new speaker systems throughout the station.

West Falls Church – Topping slab placed on the north platform (left). Skylight frames and glass in the mezzanine (right).

East Falls Church

At East Falls Church, crews have started waterproofing the concrete topping slab, as well as installing the new slip-resistant tile on the platform. Crews have also installed conduit and wiring for the lights under the platform edge. In the mezzanine, crews have started installing refurbished ceiling panels, and tile installation is about halfway done.

East Falls Church – Installing refurbished mezzanine ceiling panels (left). Pouring the topping slab and installing new slip-resistant platform tile (right).    

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