Crews Finish Work On Tysons Subway Tunnels

Mining and concrete construction work has been completed on the two tunnels that will carry the Silver Line Metro trains underground between the station in front of Tysons Corner Mall and the first station in the middle of Route 7.

The tunnels run beneath the highest natural point in Fairfax County at the intersection of Routes 7 and 123. Both tunnels are approximately 2,400 feet in length, just shy of a half-mile.

The Silver Line will allow passengers to travel on the same train from downtown Washington to McLean, Tysons Corner and Reston. The first phase of the long-awaited and much debated new line is on schedule to open in late 2013 from Falls Church to Reston.

During mining operations, the construction team successfully excavated more than 100,000 cubic yards of dirt, which was carried by truck to Washington Dulles International Airport grounds.

Already track is being set in many parts of the 11.6-mile Phase 1 alignment, including atop some guideways (bridges) and in the median of the Dulles Connector Road.
 
Station Update: Each of the five stations, all well under construction, continue to make significant progress. Large cranes lift massive, 30-ton concrete beam supports into place at the Tysons East (Dolley Madison Blvd at Capital One) and West (Route 7 and Springhill Road) stations, while complex, multi-level excavation and slabs are poured at the Tysons Central 123 (in front of the Tysons Mall) and Central 7 (Route 7 near Westpark) stations.
 
The Wiehle Avenue Station is the farthest along - the first escalators have been delivered.
 
The two large bright yellow and blue horizontal cranes (trusses) that have been so visible in Tysons Corner all year continue their marches toward completion of aerial bridges.
 
On Route 123, the truss has crossed the main entrance of Capital One Drive and will continue constructing bridge spans toward the east side of I-495. When that work is completed, the truss will be disassembled and reassembled in the median of the Dulles International Airport Access Highway near Route 7 to begin work there.
 
The truss currently in the median of Route 7 is moving west toward the Tysons West Station, being built west of Spring Hill Road. The truss now is working between Westpark Drive/Gosnell Road and Spring Hill Road.
 
Phase One of the line includes all four Tysons stations along with Wiehle Avenue in Reston. It is scheduled for completion in 2013.

Names for all stations are still being determined; Fairfax County and Metro are looking for