Metro riders and local drivers will again face closed stations and a major detour this weekend as Purple Line work continues near the Silver Spring Transit Center. Colesville Road will again be closed between Wayne Avenue and East-West Highway from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday.
Small crowds gathered periodically Sunday to watch the work underway to raise massive girders over Colesville Road for the Purple Line. Colesville will remain closed between Wayne Ave and East-West Highway until Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6 a.m.
The Silver Spring, Forest Glen and Wheaton Metro stations will close during the upcoming holiday weekend, while the county has announced closures for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced the station closures due to Purple Line integration work.
A number of Ride On bus routes and stops have been altered as of yesterday due to Purple Line construction. For example, several Ride On bus stops will be temporarily relocated along northbound Colesville Road (between Wayne Avenue and Georgia Avenue—look for the purple temporary shelters), on the second floor of the transit center, and on East-West Highway.
It’s the last free show of the season with The Loose Ends Friday evening at Sligo Creek Golf Course. The same night, Bud Skeleton & Friends will be at the American Legion, and the Legion will host Garage Rock Night on Saturday. The YMCA will lead a walk along the Purple Line route Saturday morning. The annual Takoma Park Street Festival will be held on Sunday, and policy-minded folks can attend a Subdivision Staging Policy workshop on Monday evening.
The right-hand lane of southbound Colesville Road will be closed between Second Avenue and East-West Highway beginning in mid-July for construction. Other work planned in July will affect Wayne Avenue, Bonifant Street, and Springvale Road as well.
Events this week include live music tomorrow night at Sligo Creek Golf Course, an opening reception for artist John Latham in Takoma Park, Purple Line community team and opponents of Beltway expansion group meetings, a special screening at AFI marking the Stonewall uprising 50 years ago, and the D.C. Blues Society 4th Friday happy hour at the American Legion.
It will be dejá vu for Silver Spring commuters headed for the Paul Sarbanes Transit Center as fencing is installed, cutting off some sidewalk access in preparation for Purple Line construction. Metro and bus riders will need to go around the perimeter, or access upper levels from Ramsey Avenue or Bonifant Street as construction will start this summer.
This week’s events feature several community meetings on school construction, the Purple Line and other topics, an online discussion with the county executive, film screenings, live music in several local venues and a Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts baseball game, among others.