I asked the Maryland State Highway Administration, which has jurisdiction over the road that runs from Wisconsin Avenue to Poolesville.
Carol Rainey, an SHA utility inspector, says a WSSC subcontractor is making pipe repairs within the 60" and 66" prestressed concrete cylinder pipe water mains along the busy commuter route. You may recall a catastrophic failure of one of these mains a few years ago further west.
The repairs involve carbon fiber, which is a standard material for restoring and strengthening pipes. Rainey says the epoxy used with the carbon fiber requires the workers to wear the Tyvek white coveralls and respirators.
Those hoses? They provide air, ventilation and heat during the curing process for the carbon fiber. I noticed that the contractor, Structural Preservations, was staging the project out of the SHA property between Pyle Road and Winston Drive on the eastbound side of the road.
So, nothing to worry about, and hopefully this will prevent another disastrous pipe failure along River Road before it can happen.
Sweet! Followup on a question with a concrete answer! Nice work!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see Hans Riemer is ensuring the infrastructure of our great County is properly maintained
ReplyDelete"I asked the Maryland State Highway Administration, which has jurisdiction over the road that runs from Wisconsin Avenue to Poolesville."
ReplyDeleteThey most certainly do not have jurisdiction over the section between Western Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue.
5:27: The only thing Hans Riemer has done regarding the WSSC is to vote to raise your water bill.
ReplyDelete5:31: No kidding. We're talking about the section inside Maryland here.
Hans best be looking for future employment if he votes in favor of the Westbard plan as it stands now! I heard the new TD banks are looking for tellers. Maybe get free checking too!
ReplyDeleteHe's probably shaking in his boots to lose a couple thousand Westbard votes. What was it like 35,000 votes between his 110,000 winning the last council member spot over Dyer's 75,000?
DeleteThat does make it a lot closer! But then again if the proposed limits on terms and number of times running are implemented, neither of the two would be eligible.
Delete@6:22
ReplyDeleteMore like a couple hundred, if that.
@5:39
"No kidding. We're talking about the section inside Maryland here."
The portion of River Road "that runs from Wisconsin Avenue to Poolesville" as stated in the article includes the DC section, so it was a valid comment. It really should say "Western to Darnestown" but I think we got the point.
Thanks for the info! Hazmat suits...not usually a good sign...
ReplyDeleteI just dont get all the fuss on Westbard, personally. All they are trying to do is improve the city and bring us new stores and restaurants. They probably wont even make money on the project and I highly doubt traffic is affected whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteGrow up Bethesda! Open your minds! There is a whole world out there we are closing ourselves out from!
6:52: "a whole world out there we are closing ourselves out from!"
DeleteYou mean we're missing out on Chipotle, Dick's Sporting Goods, high crime, Soviet style apartment blocs, noise, paid parking?
Good! Pull up the ladders!
^^^Open your mind, sir. These developers have one thing and one thing in mind only - destroying this community. Most likely these projects will open with great new local retail that will soon be run out of business by high rent, thus putting families and those affected in terrible financial situations. Above that (literally) you will have millennials living in great apartments but racking up debt faster than the paychecks they're receiving.
ReplyDeleteBethesda is great as is - we don't need institutional money trying to spruce up our already amazing community.
6:33, I'm 6:22. Even if we be liberal with the number at a thousand... Would those people all vote for Dyer? And if all the lost votes were spread amongst the other candidates, it does really become a few hundred lost per winner. Still not enough for Dyer to win with 75,000 + say 1,000 Westbard resident votes that 100% went over to Dyer. The next lowest was Riemer at 110,000
ReplyDelete7:03: These are calculations actually sketched out on the backs of memos from development lawyers in the Council conference room - "How much will voting YES on Westbard plan will hurt us at ballot box in 2018? Can Robert Dyer beat one of us?" - now being shared with us by the operative who sits at their right hand, when he's not posting troll comments on this blog. Alas, get a new calculator, and Google "Neal Potter 1990".
DeleteSorry just a school teacher not an operative. Can't believe you believe that.
DeleteAnon 7:02 - enjoy your minimum wage job. This is Modern Day America. Capitalism is king. Either get on bored or get used to working at the Citgo on Westbard.
ReplyDelete^^^I choose to hold a minimum wage job in order to spend more time improving the EXISTING community. RIP to the American Dream. I'm glad today's youth have taken one word of advice from our predecessors, which is "Die in Debt"...
ReplyDeleteTry not to blow your next paycheck on a plethora of non-prescription glasses...
^^^ Sux for you. Next time I wheel up in my Bentley I'll make sure you are the one to fill up my gas tank. You are bitter for a reason, you loser.
ReplyDeleteWow. Humble and outspoken - today's generation in a nut shell.
ReplyDeleteRobert - have you ever had a commentator this arrogant on your blog? There is no room for you here sir. I suggest you find another blog to blow up. Perhaps Union Market, or somewhere else in NE DC that actually is attracted to your devilish, debt-compiling breed...
And PS - I hope you have a driver for that Bentley. It would be a shame if you had to operate it yourself instead of "tweeting" at Kylie Jenner from the back seat.
Of course Equity One is looking out for their best interests (profit), but certainly they do not only have the goal of "destroying this community." Let's be realistic and practical for a moment here. They probably don't care as much about ramifications over profits, but that's their right. They do appear at face value to be trying to be somewhat rational in what they would provide for the community in exchange for more density. The planning staff, board, and council all recognize this. They all recognize the need for more housing as well. So it's a benefit to "most" people. Just not to the preferences of current West Bard residents as demonstrated.
ReplyDeleteNot all of us think that "Bethesda is great as it is." Not to mention that change will happen. Look at the Bethesda Back In The Day Facebook group. Would we have preferred Bethesda stay a little general store community and dirt roads? Most would say we are progressing positively.
7:47: No one is blaming Equity One for seeking maximum profit. That's their job, and of course, no one at their headquarters has "destroying the community" as a priority or motivation. In fact, they are known for retail expertise.
DeleteThe real issue is, shouldn't they be focused on revitalizing said retail at Westbard, rather than on how many bodies and cars can be jammed into the other sites there?
Secondly, I personally agree with you that Bethesda has made great progress downtown. But that's where urban development belongs, at a Metro station. And right now, we can't even rely on Metro anymore. But we certainly don't need to urbanize suburban Westbard - the model for continued success is Spring Valley and the Palisades, not Ballston.
And Millennials not having savings is hardly the fault of developers. The market dictates pricing. Supply is lower than demand right now in this area right now.
ReplyDelete7:48: So I assume that, out of this generous spirit of helping the millennials, the developers will be offering all 1-bedrooms for $1700-a-month or less?
DeleteVoters in downtown Bethesda, downtown Silver Spring, downtown Rockville, White Flint and Wheaton are delighted that Westbard is about to get its fair share of new development.
ReplyDeleteDyer must be sleepin in this morning!
ReplyDeleteMillennials can move to the exurbs or rent. We are keeping the suburbs for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteOh we like the development and progress of the area. We brag about it to all our bumpkin friends. We just do not want it that close to our homes.
ReplyDeleteTake what you can get, good lord. Real Estate Development is not an easy business. Very risky and takes a lot of time. Give them some sympathy. Bethesda is supposed to be an affluent committee. This whole debacle has not shown that whatsoever. Bethesda- rise up!
ReplyDeleteImagine how much less traffic there will be in Bethesda once Westbarders are able to shop and dine in their own neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny the Dyer "shills" (equivalent to the "trolls" he bands about I guess) have taken a leave of absence mysteriously as Dyer has also. And he claims all the "trolls" are one and the same person...
ReplyDeleteWell, 9:18AM not all of us get paid to be here. But, you're here...
ReplyDeleteIt's important work clarifying Dyer's misinformation to the public. We both work for free apparently, Dyer and I.
DeleteThe "Lone Troll" who is clearly employed by Hans Riemer, Steve Hull, Equity One, and the MoCo Political Machine (whatever that is)? This troll is a very busy person, as they also find time, according to Dyer, to pick up Hans Riemer's dry cleaning. No wonder they haven't had time to watch those old 1980's A&W Rootbeer commercials Dyer is so fond of referencing.
ReplyDeleteMany people have to work multiple jobs just to be able to live in this county.
ReplyDeleteIt's no wonder our Lone Troll so disagreeable.
Yet the shill finds time to respond to comments within a single minute. TFF
ReplyDeleteThe "Lone Troll" is probably very tired and hangry all the time, with so many employers and criminal endeavors to maintain, I'm not sure how they have time to sleep
ReplyDeleteCarbon fiber in our drains! how wonderful and forward thinking. Bethesda is on the cutting edge. Elon, are you paying attention? We would love a carbon fiber bodied Tesla!
ReplyDeleteAnd Shill responds again within one minute. He must spend the entire day staring into his screen and hitting F5.
ReplyDeleteHere in Bethesda, we believe that our sewer pipes would benefit from a "colon cleanse" treatment.
ReplyDeleteSlightly off-topic, but is anyone following the meltdown of Donna Edwards? She is quickly becoming the Robert Dyer of the Maryland Democratic Party.
ReplyDelete10:36: So glad you brought up Donna Edwards, who was victimized by the Montgomery County political cartel. Because you remind me again that the Montgomery County Council has opposed every black candidate for U.S. Senate since 2006.
DeleteWhy is the Council so racist? Let's hope we find out by November 2018.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete10:37: You mean that real "Bethesda news" site that is reporting County press releases and regional Metro news, while missing the actual Bethesda news like this story and so many others? You sound like a complete moron.
Delete10:37 is self-promoting again.
ReplyDeleteWaiting for it to disappear
10:06AM - wrong! I admit to being @9:36, missing word and all, but the others aren't me.
ReplyDelete11:14 is shilling for Dyer again
ReplyDeleteDyer: "You mean we're missing out on Chipotle, Dick's Sporting Goods, high crime, Soviet style apartment blocs, noise, paid parking?"
ReplyDeleteWoah, what's wrong with Chipotle? Elitist much?
And the existing high-rises in Westbard look exactly like "Soviet style apartment blocs" especially compared to the newer multifamily buildings (tall and short) around the county.
1:56: Chipotle = Taco Bell with high hipster prices. And you're calling me an elitist?
DeleteI'm just going on the boxy renderings shown - if they can hire a new architect [holding coffee mug] "that would be great"
Lol Dyer talking about racism, a member of the racist Rethuglican party who rips on Anthony Brown and Ike Legget while shouting Hogan's praises.
ReplyDeleteYou sir, are the last person to call anyone racist.
1:59: You sound like a complete nutjob.
DeleteIke Leggett? We may disagree on certain policies, but he's a good man, he knows who I am, and we've always had coordial conversations anytime I've encountered him in public.
Anthony Brown? Don't recall even writing much about him.
Now, if you're claiming that not being obsequious and not reporting only good press release news about the Montgomery County political cartel like those media outlets in the employ of said cartel is somehow "racist"...
No, sir, it's called journalism. It's called telling the truth.
Now if you want to talk about racism, you can consider:
+ The shameful achievement gap in MCPS that has only grown since 2010 under this County Council
+ The Council mobilizing to ensure the Maryland US Senate delegation remain white, male and part of the political cartel
+ Black students are more likely to be suspended in Montgomery County public schools than in Texas
+ The County Council actively assisting (with the exception of Marc Elrich) developers in cheating black property owners out of their property rights in the Farm Road scandal, and then elevating a Planning Commissioner who voted for a sham cover-up of that to chair of the Planning Board
I could go on. And on.
"OMG - Metro has maintenance problems, and is going to inconvenience riders while pretending to fix them again. That's REALLY BIG NEWS, compared to mysterious guys in hazmat suits all along River Road without any advance word to the public. Now let me spam about it on Robert Dyer's site!"
ReplyDelete@2:20 it's called "blogging". You're a blogger! Journalists don't call their readers "morons" and "nutjobs". They also don't plagerize 1980's A&W Rootbeer commercials!
ReplyDeleteI note that the deleted comment was about a Metrobus terminal. Although both are under WMATA, Metrobus is not Metrorail. The former is actually doing quite well.
ReplyDeleteIs there any apartment building over 4 stories high that Dyer has not called "Soviet-style"? Somerset House is three 18-20 story buildings, nearly identical, with over 400 units. Would he call those "Soviet-style"?
Would he describe Shake Shake as "McDonalds with high hipster prices"? Oh, and I heard that he pronounces "Chipotle" to rhyme with "bottle".
2:35: Shake Shack is a different style of burger. A burrito is a burrito. And Taco Bell is actually better, and has a more interesting menu. Hopefully Equity One will be smart and add Taco Bell, although it would make more sense on River Road with a drive-thru.
DeleteI thought we were talking about Westbard, not Somerset House - the renderings for Westbard were pedestrian retreads of every cookie cutter town center found elsewhere in the region. Even the sector plan calls for distinctive architecture that reflects the history, heritage and materials specific to the "Westbard" area. So Soviet style ain't gonna cut it.
"+ The Council mobilizing to ensure the Maryland US Senate delegation remain white, male and part of the political cartel"
ReplyDeleteTonight I learned that the MoCo Machine controls not only Montgomery County, but the entire population of the state of Maryland.
5:05: I hear the cemetery precincts came in strong for Van Hollen.
Delete2:39: Denial can't wash away the stain of racism. Black students in MCPS are 3x as likely to be suspended as whites; in Texas public schools, they are only 2x as likely. SAID THE REPORTS! NOT ME - THE INDEPENDENT REPORTS!
ReplyDelete"...distinctive architecture that reflects the history, heritage and materials specific to the 'Westbard' area."
ReplyDeleteSo you'd be happy if the new apartment buildings were designed to look like the crappy old gas stations and convenience stores that most people think of when the word "Westbard" is mentioned?
7:32: Uh...I don't think there were gas stations or convenience stores in 1865.
Delete"SAID THE REPORTS! NOT ME - THE INDEPENDENT REPORTS!"
ReplyDeleteNope. The report on Texas said that the disparity there was more than three times. Why do you keep lying, and then deleting comments that expose your lie?
6:50: Because YOU are lying - I linked to the report in my story, and it clearly states that blacks are "2x" or "more than 2x" as likely to be suspended. Here it is 3x in MCPS.
DeleteTalk about lying! 6:50 there is only 1 deleted post and it was a link to the other blog along with with a Dyer insult.
ReplyDeleteWhere are all these deleted comments? Unless you can show what they originally said, it's meaningless.
Did 7:29 just ask why he can't see deleted comments? Ha.
Delete7:39 - did you even GO to school? Reading comprehension, dude.
ReplyDeleteThere's only one deleted comment in this thread not the many 6:50 said.
Dyer thinks that Westbard should look as it did in 1865? Good, let's tear down his house and have his lot revert to farmland.
ReplyDelete8:25: Well, your comment proves you haven't even read the full text of Westbard sector plan you are so busy advocating for. Embarrassing. How can you lecture us, when you haven't even read the plan and don't know what's in it?
DeleteMost aren't really advocating for Westbard, rather poking fun at your funny logic and defensive nature. That's kind of what you aren't getting here.
DeleteI think he does get it. More than you would imagine. And I think that's what most of the anti-Dyers aren't getting here. (to use your terminology)
ReplyDeleteRead what Dyer wrote just above. He's still defending his position and attacking the commenters here for their Westbard position. . So obviously he doesn't get it.
DeleteOr he's just futzing with them.
ReplyDeleteBy making a mockery of himself? hes doing a bang up job.
DeleteOr he's just futzing with them. Lemme let y'all in on a little secret:
ReplyDelete'You appreciate all the love and get motivated by all the hate.'
He's got his own blog, stands up for what he believes in, and I'm sure enjoys it immensely. Sets his own schedule, works on what he wants when he wants. So, yeah, he's just futzing with them.
Must be nice to be independently wealthy and not need to have a real day job so that he can set his own schedule and work on what he wants when he wants.
Delete