Woodmont Avenue between Bethesda Avenue and Leland Street hasn't been open that long, but drivers and pedestrians were surprised to find it closed on Saturday. No traffic control signage was posted in advance, and I can locate no public announcement. Woodmont Avenue's temporary pedestrian path was not sealed off, but blocked by barrels. Some able-bodied pedestrians squeezed by and used the path, but there was not enough room for a wheelchair to pass.
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Bethesda Avenue entrance
to the temporary Woodmont Avenue
pedestrian path |
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The pedestrian path on
Saturday |
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The "war on pedestrians" continues
in downtown Bethesda |
This shutdown was not related to the Lot 31 development that required Woodmont Avenue to close for the last couple of years. The closure was required to install the tower crane at the Solaire Bethesda luxury apartment project at 7100 Wisconsin Avenue. This is a common occurrence around town these days, as the heavy equipment - included a crane needed to assemble the tower crane - take up a lot of space, and that's hard to come by in an urban area. Expect the road to remain closed for at least part of today, as crews complete the job.
One side benefit of the closure was getting some close-up photos of the equipment used to install the tower crane.
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This happens a lot with the JBG project on Norfolk too. The developers seem to just close the road or sidewalk anytime they want.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone with insight have any info on if this is allowed and how?
Presumably the developer got permission to close a large portion of Woodmont for an entIre weekend.
ReplyDeleteThere was a failure in communicating this to the public however. Folks out walking or driving around Bethesda Row didn't know what was going on.
Our county government asleep at the switch again. They're so bad at community communications. Bethesda residents rely on Robert to find out what's going on.
ReplyDeleteHuh? Who cares? These temp street closures happen all the time, especially on the weekends to limit impact. The idea the general public should be informed beforehand is absurd, not to mention largely impossible.
ReplyDeleteEnd game is totally worth it. New nice buildings, sidewalk, power underground, etc. More residents, more retail. Love it.
DeleteCommunicating a major road closure is largely impossible? A simple post on social media or sharing the info with local news sites like Dyer's is rather easy. Takes about 5 minutes.
DeleteYes, the new buildings are wonderful, that's not the issue.
4:42: Weekends are primetime at Bethesda Row.
Delete5:17: So it's not a big deal if a disabled person is denied access, or a pedestrian is injured?
DeleteExplain how is said that? (5:17)
DeleteDoes advanced notice make it any different for disabled access or likelihood of injury?
I was there this weekend. We parked on the north side of the Capital Crescent Garage, and took the elevator up. We walked along the pedestrian "path" on Woodmont to Bethesda Ave, which had barrels blocking it. So I guess they intended for it to be closed to pedestrians but didn't close off the door from the garage elevator to the street.
ReplyDeleteGetting back was the problem. They wouldn't let us walk back to that elevator. It was suggested we try the vehicle entrance to the garage, on Bethesda Ave. However, the sidewalk by that entrance is _also_ closed, so there was no safe, legal way to enter the North side of the garage.
If they need to close roads for events like this, they should announce it in advance. It's not like crane installation plans occur overnight. There is planning involved, so part of those plans should be to inform the public.
Wasn't there supposed to be some type of signage as part of the new county law, that lists sidewalk closures and who to call to complain?
"Communicating a major road closure is largely impossible? A simple post on social media or sharing the info with local news sites like Dyer's is rather easy. Takes about 5 minutes."
ReplyDeleteHow is that going to move the needle at all? Why would it matter that people are pre-informed on a temporary closure of one block of a street? People approach the street and are detoured - it happens literally dozens of times every day across the region without any fanfare or issue. This is so far from a problem I can't believe we're having a discussion about it.
"So it's not a big deal if a disabled person is denied access, or a pedestrian is injured?"
ReplyDeleteHuh? Who said that? The entire point of the closure is so pedestrians AREN'T injured. Stop being a constant ass of a troll, Dyer.
Was the pedestrian walkway closed or was it open? It wasn't clear to me and now I see others were just as confused.
ReplyDeleteFYI for anyone walking there tonight: There was shattered glass on Woodmont near The Darcy lobby entrance that made its way on the pedestrian walkway today. Doubt anyone is on site to clean it up yet.
I can't recall all lanes of a major road closing for an entire weekend without public notice.
Dyer are you just pissed that no one sent you the memo? Quite literally, there was a memo (in the form on an email) that was circulated to all area building owners and property managers informing them of the closure. Heavy equipment necessary for the completion of these buildings mandate lane closures, and area residents and tenants were informed. This is a non-issue. No handicapped people were injured, Dyer. Relax.
ReplyDelete9:16: That's different from a public notice. By the way, how would you know what was emailed to property owners? That would mean you are either part of the companies involved, or in the office of an affected property.
ReplyDelete7:16: So why was it open to able-bodied people who were walking on it? I was responding to the commenter who said the end justifies the means.
ReplyDelete7:14: So that's why we keep hearing about lane shifts on MD 355? Let's be consistent here. This was a full closure of a main road, not a lane shift.
ReplyDelete6:39: You're talking about two different things - safety during the closure, and the need for advance notice of a road closure.
ReplyDeleteI know. That is directly because of your response where you said "Robert Dyer6:14 PM
Delete5:17: So it's not a big deal if a disabled person is denied access, or a pedestrian is injured?"
Dyer, my office is on Woodmont and I live in a condo on Hampden. I received notices from the management company at the office and from the BoD at home. It's not like they're shutting down Wisconsin Ave here. You're over-reacting.
ReplyDelete11:38: OK, that makes sense, then. So they did alert property owners. But that still leaves the general public, and I believe a number of people have brought up the issues that resulted from that on Twitter and in the comments here. I agree it's not 355, but it is still a major thoroughfare and access route for reaching and parking at Bethesda Row.
DeleteI get they should try to notify folks. Even if they try though people don't always get the message. And it's not always a huge deal for a temporary shutdown if the finished product is better. Woodmont when it was closed for a long while really didn't seem much different. Not a huge deal. Definitely not like if they closed 355. :)
DeleteI don't see how that is a main road Dyer. It's been closed for over a year and didn't cause any traffic issues. One day shouldn't be a problem.
ReplyDeleteI was driving that way this weekend. When I had to turn left and move my steering wheel a meer 5 inches I was irked. I ended up getting to the same place in the same amount of time just like 99% of the drivers who use that stretch of road, but damn that left turn ticked me off.
ReplyDelete4:40: Translation: "The County is infallible! Everything is awesome! There can be no dissent! Resistance is futile!"
DeleteEverything is awesome. Everything is cool when you're living the dream.
DeleteAll the folks I saw making u-turns on woodmont back to 355 Wisconsin dn't "get the memo" presumably.
ReplyDeleteNo one is pointing fingers. Let's just strive to do better next time.
Dyer is just trying to improve stuff, he's on top of pedestrian access issues.
What's so hard about the developers posting a sign about the road closure in advance? I see no reason why they should NOT do this. The roads and sidewalks are owned by the public, so the public has a right to know in advance about the closures.
ReplyDelete6:55 AM Agreed. This doesn't just impact folks who live on that block.
ReplyDeleteMore communication is better than less.
A sign shouldn't be a big deal.
I have the weekly newsletter from the BCC Services Center open right now and it talks about temporary lane closures on other streets. Why not include this one? Legitimate question. Maybe it fell between the cracks?
I agree they should provide advanced notice, but realistically how many affected people would even notice?
DeleteI agreed they should have signage, but realistically a closed street with or without a sign may not make much of a difference in outcomes.
@7:05 That's interesting it wasn't in the newsletter either. Maybe they didn't have a permit to close the road at all? How does one look up that information?
ReplyDeleteThis is why road and sidewalk closures should have clear signage with dates of closure, permit #, and contact point.
@8:20 I was there this weekend. The weather was lovely and that area was packed with people walking around. It did affect a lot of people. I personally saw 3 sets of people (2 of them families with small childen) forced to walk down the car entrance to Capital Crescent Garage because the pedestrian access had been blocked.
ReplyDeleteI get that. But what would a sign have done? They would be in tr same situation likely. Same with advanced notice. What small percentage of people check?
DeleteIdeally yes we are well informed in advance and on the spot and we all pay attention.