Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Construction Progress September 15, 2013

Testing continues along the branch. Finishing work on the stations is for all intensive purposes done. There is a number of punch lists items that I noticed that need to be done that will not have any effect on the opening of the line. Such as connecting the entrance pavilion downspouts to the drain pipes.

The train control room that controls the movement of trains through the junction interlocking is now on line. The rest of the signals along the branch still have bags over them.

The sound box over the yard lead and turning loop in Falls Church Yard is structurally complete. The steel frame will support steel studs that will have an exterior sheathing of water proof 5/8” gypsum board. The gypsum board is receiving a skim coat of mustard colored exterior plaster. Not sure of how the box will be finished on the interior, hope some kind finish is installed as there are a lot of surfaces inside of the box that dust and dirt can accumulate on.

The shop annex is structurally complete and has received its finish sheathing, glazing still need to be installed in the window openings.

All of the entrance pavilions are done, some have the station names over the entrance openings. The entrance pylon frames have been installed at all of the entrance pavilions, the bronze has been hung on pylon frame at the south entrance pavilion at Weihle-Reston East. Lighting around the entrance pavilions has also been installed. Bike racks, benches and bus shelters have also been installed at some locations.

Interesting lighting feature in the area of the elevator entrances in the entrance pavilions. There are lights in the floor that wash upwards flanking the elevator doors. They appear to have halogen blubs in them. The public address system in the stations is online as I could here system wide announcements being made as I was photographing close ups of the entrance pavilions.

The north end of the pedestrian bridge at the Weihle-Reston East station is a little interesting. It just ends at corner of the plaza of the Comstock Partners Reston Station property. No sloping canopy like at the bottom of the escalators at the entrance pavilions. There also is no entrance pylon marking it purpose. Adjacent to the end of the pedestrian bridge is a set of stairs that descend to the loading dock access road to the building that have not been built yet. Not sure why it is there, best guess is it there to allow access to the north side of the station from the location where the fire trucks would connect fire hoses from the fire hydrant to the dry standpipe. The middle of the plaza has an entrance with escalators and elevators that lead down to the underground parking garage and kiss and ride. Failed to descend the escalator to see what things look like on the level below the plaza. The garage will be accessible from Reston Station Boulevard.

Restoration of the road surfaces along Dolly Madison Boulevard and Chain Bridge Road is done. Only a few segment of Leesburg Pike remain to be done. The intersection that allowed traffic to turn left onto Leesburg Pike from southbound Chain Bridge Road will be restored.

Test track and Commissioning Facility

Work has commenced on the test track. Ground work in the area of the crossover began the end of June. The parts for the crossover were delivered to the staging area in early June. Some of the cross ties and the basses for the signal masts were delivered in July and August. No grading has been done beyond the area of the crossover. The frame for the commissioning facility shop building was topped out in late July. The turnout on track E2 for the crossover that will connect to test track was installed in early September. The footing for the parking structure that will increase the parking capacity in Greenbelt Yard and replace the spaces lost to the footprint of the commissioning facility shop building is mostly done.

Originally Published 09 19 2013 at cambronj.blogspot.com.

K&N junction:

East side of double crossover at K&N Junction.	Westbound Orange line train in K&N junction track K2.	Westbound Orange line train in K&N junction track K2.
Eastbound Orange line train in K&N junction track K1.		Eastbound Orange line train east of K&N junction track K1.

Falls Church Yard:

Falls Church Yard lead west tunnel portal and yard loop sound box.	Falls Church Yard lead west tunnel portal sound box.	Falls Church Yard lead west tunnel portal sound box.
Falls Church Yard shop annex.	Falls Church Yard loop sound box.	Falls Church Yard loop sound box.

McLean station:

McLean station entrance pavilion.	McLean station entrance pavilion escalators and stairs.	McLean station entrance pavilion elevators.
McLean station entrance.	McLean station bus bay and entrance.	McLean station entrance.

Tysons Corner station:

Tysons Corner station bus road.	Tysons Corner station under side of mezzanine above Tysons Boulevard.	Tysons Corner station under side of mezzanine above bus road.
Tysons Corner station entrance.	Tysons Corner station entrance pavilion.	Tysons Corner station entrance pavilion elevators.
Tysons Corner station entrance pavilion elevators.		Tysons Corner station entrance pavilion.

Greensboro station:

Greensboro station north entrance pavilion.	Greensboro station north entrance elevators.	Greensboro station north entrance escalators.
Greensboro station south entrance pavilion.	Greensboro station south entrance pavilion.	Greensboro station south entrance stairs and escalators.
Greensboro station south entrance elevators.	Greensboro station south pedestrian bridge.	Greensboro station south entrance pavilion.
Greensboro station.	Greensboro station platform PIMS next train displays.	Greensboro station platform shelter.

Spring Hill station:

Spring Hill station north entrance pavilion.	Spring Hill station north entrance pavilion.	Spring Hill station north entrance pavilion.
Spring Hill station north entrance escalators and stairs.	Spring Hill station north entrance pavilion.	Spring Hill station north entrance elevators.
Spring Hill station north entrance pavilion.	Spring Hill station.	Spring Hill station underside of mezzanine.
Spring Hill station south entrance pavilion.	Spring Hill station north entrance stairs and escalator.	Spring Hill station south entrance elevators.
Spring Hill station south entrance elevators.		Spring Hill station south entrance pavilion.

Wiehle-Reston East station:

Wiehle-Reston East station south entrance pavilion.	Wiehle-Reston East station south entrance pavilion.	Wiehle-Reston East station south entrance bus bays.
Wiehle-Reston East station south entrance bus bays.	Wiehle-Reston East station south escalators and stairs.	Wiehle-Reston East station south entrance elevators.
Wiehle-Reston East station north entrance.	Wiehle-Reston East station north entrance.	Wiehle-Reston East station north pedestrian bridge.
Wiehle-Reston East station north pedestrian bridge.	Wiehle-Reston East station north entrance.	Wiehle-Reston East station.
Comstock Reston Station pavilion to parking garage and kiss and ride.	Comstock Reston Station pavilion to parking garage and kiss and ride.	Comstock Reston Station elevators to parking garage and kiss and ride.
	Comstock Reston Station escalators to parking garage and kiss and ride.

Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj DCMP 09 15 1013

Greenbelt Test Track and Commissioning Facility:

08-08-2013

Turnouts and signal mast bases for crossover to test track.	Signal mast bases for crossover to test track.	Ties for test track.
Truck loaded with ties for test track.	Ties for test track.	Truck loaded with ties for test track.
Third rail ties for test track.	Commissioning Facility shop.	Commissioning Facility shop.
	Parking structure in Greenbelt yard.

09-15-2013

Test track crossover turnout track E2.

Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj Greenbelt Commissioning Facility