Metro’s planned summer shutdown of a portion of the Red Line officially began today, Monday, July 6, with shuttle buses lining streets across the area as crews launch a two-month construction project.
Through Saturday, Sept. 6, Red Line trains will not operate between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights. Service will continue every six minutes during the day and every ten minutes late at night on two separate segments: Shady Grove to North Bethesda and Friendship Heights to Glenmont. To accommodate riders, Metro has deployed free local and express shuttle buses, with dedicated bus lanes now in place along portions of Rockville Pike.
The closure will allow Metro to complete several major projects, including construction of a second mezzanine at Bethesda station for the future Purple Line connection, platform rehabilitation at Grosvenor-Strathmore station, and maintenance work on the elevated rail structure over Rockville Pike. Free parking is available at North Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations during the shutdown, and Metro is urging riders to allow extra travel time and plan ahead through early September.
