Potomac-area commuters dependent on the Red Line will have to search for alternative transportation through early September.
The Metro Red Line segment from North Bethesda to Friendship Heights shut down on Tuesday for a major infrastructure project, Bethesda Magazine reported. The closure runs through Sunday, September 6, covering the rest of summer and Labor Day weekend. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is running 100 shuttle buses between the affected stations.
What it means for Potomac riders
The two Red Line stops closest to Potomac, North Bethesda (formerly White Flint) and Bethesda, are both inside the closure zone. Riders heading south toward D.C. will need to board shuttles to Friendship Heights, then transfer back to rail service. Those heading north can pick up regular Red Line trains at Shady Grove or other stations north of the closure.
WMATA has described the work only as a "major infrastructure project" without specifying whether it involves track, signals or tunnel repairs. Shuttle pickup locations and frequencies have not been detailed beyond the agency's alerts page.
How to plan around it
Riders should check WMATA's alerts page for shuttle schedules and real-time service updates. Potomac residents who typically drive to the Bethesda or North Bethesda stations may want to drive directly to Friendship Heights or Shady Grove to bypass the affected segment entirely.
Montgomery County's Ride On bus system has not announced service enhancements specifically for Potomac-area riders during the closure.
Upcoming community dates
- Through Sunday, September 6 — Red Line closure in effect, North Bethesda to Friendship Heights; 100 WMATA shuttle buses operating between affected stations
