WASHINGTON – The Bethesda Metro Station will be closed Saturday and Sunday so parts of a new escalator can be installed.

The station’s entrance escalators are the second-longest in the Western Hemisphere and have outlived their useful life.

Heavy equipment will be needed to install two motors that are the size of a small car plus nine large sections that will form the escalator truss. Control systems and other equipment will also be delivered this weekend, according to Metro

To accommodate the work, trains will bypass the station in both directions. Free shuttle buses will run between Bethesda and Medical Center stations every 5 to 10 minutes. Riders should plan to add 15 minutes to their trip.

The escalators are more than 30 years old and will be replaced with equipment that is expected to be more durable and reliable. LED lighting will be installed to improve visibility for riders.

The project is part of a $151 million plan to replace 128 escalators throughout the rail system by 2020.