The newest stop on the Washington, D.C., area Metro system opened last week in Alexandria, Virginia.
Built by a joint venture of global contractors Halmar and Schiavone, the $370 million Potomac Yard station is located between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road stations on Metrorail’s Blue and Yellow lines.
Potomac Yard will be Metro's 98th station and its second infill station, built between existing stations, according to a press release.
The addition of the station enhances connectivity to and from Alexandria, which has seen substantial population growth and new development in the last few decades, according to the release. New development immediately adjacent and north of the station is a mix of retail, residential and commercial development, including the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus.
Work on the project began in August 2018 and its proposed 2022 completion date was delayed last year due to unexpected structural site conditions, according to The Alexandria Times. Construction crews discovered soil issues that affected the structural stability of the ground beneath the tracks which prompted the need for a remediation plan, the Times said.
The approximate 100,000-square-foot project includes two 800-foot-long platforms, an entry pavilion, multiple pedestrian and bicycle bridges, power upgrades at six other stations, a new AC switchgear room and re-alignment of the Metrorail tracks through the new station, according to Halmar.
The station was funded by tax revenues and developer contributions generated by planned new development in the Potomac Yard neighborhood, as well as state grants, loans and regional sources.
An early adopter of the LEED for Transit Stations pilot program, the station is targeting Gold level certification.
