The first of three replacement escalators for the Bethesda Metro station arrived over the weekend, but it won’t start carrying passengers until the summer, according to Metro officials.
Metro announced Monday that, following the weekend closure of the station, the escalator was successfully delivered and put it into the position. The installation of the first escalator is two-thirds complete, Metro said. Remaining work includes installing the escalator’s steps, handrails and lighting, as well as connecting the motors.
This summer, the escalator is expected to begin operating, at which point crews will begin replacing the second escalator. In total, the project is expected to take 2½ years to complete, with each escalator taking about 42 weeks to replace. The construction project at the station began in October and crews spent four months demolishing and removing the first escalator, according to Metro.
The Bethesda replacement project is part of a $151 million program to replace 128 Metro escalators by 2020.
The escalators at the Bethesda station are the second longest in the Western Hemisphere, measuring 212 feet and rising 106 feet. The longest escalators, measuring 230 feet, are at the Wheaton station.
Metro took the following photos of the escalator's installation:
