Clark Construction Details Complex Upgrades Across D.C. Metro Stations

Clark Construction completed critical structural overhauls on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) system during a 56-day summer shutdown. WMATA confirmed that work across the Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore Red Line stations met schedule and budget targets. The scope included specialized demolition, track replacements, and construction of a new mezzanine in Bethesda linking to Maryland's planned Purple Line light rail. At Grosvenor-Strathmore, crews used remote-demolition robots to remove more than 18,000 square feet of platform tile and concrete topping slab, along with replacing 1,200 linear feet of track edge. Project teams faced significant site constraints, relying on historical hand-drawn schematics that frequently diverged from actual field conditions. Restricted clearance required deploying ultra-compact spider cranes within curved station vaults and supplying work zones via diesel locomotives over de-energized tracks. High summer temperatures pushed concrete placements to early mornings to maintain mix temperatures below 95 degrees, while Bethesda teams routed a 500-foot slick-line pipe through ventilation shafts and tunnels using a specialized mix to avoid clogs.

Key takeaways

• Clark Construction delivered structural upgrades across Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations during a 56-day transit shutdown window.
• Crews utilized remote-controlled demolition robots to clear over 18,000 square feet of platform slab and installed 1,200 linear feet of track edge.
• Tight underground geometry required ultra-compact spider cranes, locomotive deliveries, and a 500-foot slick line for concrete placement.