Metro riders in the Silver Spring area should prepare for delays during the next two weeks.
The transit operator is scheduled to begin a project to replace an interlocking system that will require the Takoma station to be closed from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10.
Metro will operate free shuttle buses from the Silver Spring and Takoma stations to and from the Fort Totten station to transport riders around the track work.
The replacement project requires taking both sets of tracks out of service for about four miles. Workers will also be upgrading signals, replacing rail ties and installing new rail in the area. An interlocking system enables trains to cross from one track to the other.
Additional work is taking place on the weekend of Dec. 2 and 3 that will result in the closure of the Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring stations, in addition to the Takoma station. Crews that weekend will be installing new radio communication cables, according to Metro.
Metro is encouraging riders to take the MARC train line to Union Station or consider other alternate travel options to navigate around the work.