Red Line stations downtown are closed starting Monday Dec. 18 through Dec. 30 as WMATA begins a two-week construction project to make critical safety repairs to tunnels and tracks, upgrade signal and communications systems, and install new platform edge lights.

Through that period, there will be no Red Line service between Dupont Circle and Gallery Place, which includes Farragut North station, which will be closed, and Metro Center, which will be open but with no Red Line trains running. Trains will still run between Dupont Circle and Shady Grove, and between Gallery Place and Glenmont.

Service on other lines at Metro Center (Orange, Blue, and Silver) and Gallery Place (Yellow and Green) will continue. Metro Center’s entrance at G St NW at 11^th and 13^th Streets will be closed.

Then, from Dec. 22 to Christmas Eve, Red Line closures will extend from Dupont Circle to Union Station, meaning Judiciary Square station will be closed. Trains will continue running from Union Station to Glenmont. Gallery Place’s entrance at 9^th and G St SW will also be closed during this time.

WMATA announced its plans earlier this fall to stop service at downtown Red Line stations in December, saying that Metro historically has its lowest ridership during the holiday season. However, the closures are expected to affect accessibility to certain holiday events, including the Downtown Holiday Market next to Gallery Place, and Nutcracker performances at the Warner Theatre, which is near Metro Center. Madonna will also be performing at Capital One Arena (at Gallery Place Metro) on Monday and Tuesday as part of her retrospective Celebration tour.

Shuttle service will be available, including a number of express shuttles. From Dec. 18-30, there will be free shuttle service for all Metro stations between Dupont Circle and Gallery Place. Metro also added an an “express service” between Dupont Circle and Gallery Place with no stops in between, and another “express service” between Dupont Circle and Farragut West. WMATA says service will be every six to eight minutes for these shuttles. From Dec. 22-24, there will also be free local service at stops between Dupont Circle and Union Station, with service every eight to 10 minutes. There will also be an “express service” every six to eight minutes, directly between Dupont Circle and Union Station, as well as between Dupont Circle and Farragut West.