Sunday, December 15, 2019

WMATA tries to fix Bethesda Metro escalator leak (Video+Photos)

Metro riders have noted water leaks over the underground escalators at the Bethesda Metro station for many years. Last night, WMATA contractors began a new effort to try and stop these leaks. In 2014, the transit agency cited the property owner above the station as the responsible party for the water - which sometimes becomes icicles in the winter. Saturday night, workers were focused on an area close to the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel.

A crane was brought in to lift heavy concrete. This required closure of the driveway and main entrance to the Hyatt lobby. "This is ridiculous," one arriving hotel guest exclaimed as he attempted to find another way into the hotel, while pulling a wheeled piece of luggage behind him. The Hyatt set up an outdoor front desk, complete with space heaters, in the 43 degree night air. Employees attempted to use the al fresco desk to sign in lodgers, and valet park vehicles.




13 comments:

Anonymous said...

The photos clearly show that the crane was lifting a steel beam, not concrete.

Anonymous said...

So, if the main entrance is closed, then where is this "al fresco desk"? Is construction still ongoing today?

Maloney Concrete said...

The water leaks over the Bethesda Metro escalators story continues! A real fix in the works?

Anonymous said...

Did Dyer ever deliver on his promise to get the elevator at the Metropolitan Garage re-opened?

Anonymous said...

12:09 PM Dyer is a journalist and reported on the elevator.

Anonymous said...

12:42 PM You must be smarter than all of the real estate owners that have been renovating their theaters or opening new ones over the past year...including two in Gaithersburg alone :)

Skip said...

Big, big news for our Metro station!

Anonymous said...

@ 12:57 PM -

The Kentlands Cineplex has changed hands more times than Lakeforest Mall. Supposedly they were "completely renovated" by their previous owner three years ago, and were "completely renovated" again and had the number of seats reduced by their current owner before finally re-opening in July.

Anonymous said...

The trend is less seats since most chains are converting to larger, leather recliners.

Anonymous said...

"Who the hell are all these annoying, sick people crowded around me every time I go to the movies, then?"

-Robert Dyer, February 6, 2018

http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2018/02/apex-building-obliterated-in-bethesda.html?showComment=1518069029676#c3193134709279867733

Anonymous said...

@ 2:57 PM - the downside to the current trend of reserved seating in moving theaters. You can't just walk to another part of the theater if you don't like your seat or your neighbors.

Anonymous said...

And the downside to "larger leather recliners" - if it's going to feel just like the comforts of home, rather than the spectacle of a crowded movie theater - why would I want to spend $25 per person to go (not counting grossly marked-up junk food), rather than staying at home and watching it for free?

Anonymous said...

True. That is unfortunately the case at arclight which has old school seats but reserved.

I don't find it a problem with the new places with recliners since there tends to be more separation between each pair of seats and the rows aren't as close as they are in old stadium seating.