By Andrew Giambrone posted July 31st, 2019 on dc.curbed.com
The transit agency says the repairs won’t be completed until mid-August
Metro riders who use the Dupont Circle or Farragut North stations on the Red Line will have to endure warm conditions there on hot days for another few weeks. On Tuesday, the transit agency said the full replacement of underground chilling pipes that help cool the stations is now unlikely to be finished until mid-August, as a result of unforeseen work complications.
“While the project has advanced to is final stage, the contractor has encountered several delays due to unexpected utilities and other obstructions (unmarked on engineering drawings) that required design changes,” Metro said in a release. “New pipe fittings to accommodate these design changes have been ordered and are expected to arrive in 1-2 weeks.” The project has been delayed before and has been needed for at least four years.
The chilling pipes carry cold water, which in turn produces cool air for the stations, but are corroded. Situated beneath Connecticut Avenue NW, they date to the rail system’s original construction in the 1970s, according to Metro. The repairs have required digging under the avenue and putting in new pipes to reconnect a nearby chiller plant, a cooling tower on an office building in the vicinity, and the Dupont Circle and Farragut North stations. They were supposed to be done this past spring in time for the cooling system’s usual activation in May.
In the meantime, Metro says it will keep running tunnel fans to circulate air in the stations. Similar issues were recently resolved at the Union Station Metro stop, also on the Red Line. Automatic door-opening on that line, however, was suspended this month due to problems.