BETHESDA TRAFFIC SIGNALS COLLAPSE, CRASH DOWN ONTO STREET BELOW [PHOTOS] - OLD GEORGETOWN AND ARLINGTON ROADS

A utility pole and traffic lights fell suddenly Saturday afternoon, crashing down onto the roadway below at a major downtown Bethesda intersection. It is unknown at present the official cause, or how soon the pole and signals at the crossroads of Old Georgetown Road, Arlington Road, St. Elmo Avenue, and Wilson Lane can be replaced.

Montgomery County Police
on scene after collapse

Rust and corrosion at the base of the pole are obvious, but we'll have to wait for an official determination. Many thanks to reader James Murphy for emailing these dramatic photos in the immediate aftermath of the collapse. Fortunately, there is no indication of injuries.

This is another wake-up call about aging infrastructure countywide.

Close-up of corroded
light pole base