The Great Red Line Downtown Shutdown

This could be the best weekend to avoid taking the Red Line downtown.

Board a Red Line train on the line's western branch, and it'll take you downtown only as far as Dupont Circle. On the eastern branch, you'll get only as far as NoMa-Gallaudet U.

"Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between Dupont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations to allow for installation of new fiber optic cable for improved wireless communications, as well as track maintenance and third rail upgrades," according to Metro's website.

The work will begin at 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, and continue through closing on Sunday, Sept. 9.

The following stations will be affected:

• Dupont Circle will be open for rail service to and from Shady Grove only.
• Farragut North will be closed.
• Metro Center will be open for Blue and Orange line service only, and the station entrances at 11th and G streets NW and at 13th and G streets NW will be closed. The entrances at 12th and G streets NW and at 12th and F streets NW will remain open.
• Gallery Place will be open for Green and Yellow line service only. The station entrance at 9th and G streets NW will be closed, and the entrances at 7th and H streets NW and at 7th and F streets NW will remain open.
• Judiciary Square will be closed.
• Union Station will be closed, and shuttle buses will depart from 1st Street NE, outside the Metro station entrance.
• NoMa-Gallaudet U will be open for rail service to and from Glenmont only.

Red Line trains will operate in two sections:

• Between Shady Grove and Dupont Circle stations every 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and at regular weekend intervals at other times.
• Between Glenmont and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations every 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and at regular weekend intervals at other times.

"Limited-stop buses will operate between Dupont Circle, Metro Center, Gallery Place and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations only. Customers using limited stop buses should allow up to 30 minutes of additional travel time," Metro reported on its website.

"Local buses will stop at all stations. Customers using local bus service should allow up to 50 minutes of additional travel time," Metro's website added.

Last train information:

• On Friday and Saturday nights, the last Red Line train from Shady Grove to Dupont Circle will depart 30 minutes earlier than normal, at 2 a.m. The last train from Glenmont to NoMa-Gallaudet U will depart 41 minutes earlier than normal, at 1:56 a.m.
• On Sunday night, the last Red Line train from Shady Grove to Dupont Circle will depart 30 minutes earlier than normal, at 11 p.m. The last train from Glenmont to NoMa-Gallaudet U will depart 41 minutes earlier than normal, at 10:56 p.m.

Read more about weekend track work on Metro's website.