Unannounced blasting in Westbard area of Bethesda

Around 1:47 PM yesterday, horns sounded in the Westbard area of Bethesda. Moments later, explosives were detonated, shaking the ground and rattling nearby homes and businesses. That was followed by an all-clear horn. This was presumably related to the Westbard Avenue realignment project, as that is the only project of the scale that would require blasting in the area, but that is not confirmed. The explosions took the community by surprise, as whoever detonated the charges did not issue a public announcement beforehand. Neither did Montgomery County.

The vibrations of these blasts can damage nearby properties, and the parties involved can be held liable for such damages. As such, the surrounding property owners must be notified in advance of such blasting. When the Fourth Presbyterian Church at 5500 River Road required blasting for their addition, they advised the community of this in advance. It's not unusual to blast during large-scale construction excavation in Bethesda, as the soil is known to be very rocky here. What is unusual, is for residents to suddenly hear and feel a blast they were given no warning of.

Will more blasting be heard around Westbard today or in coming days? We don't know, because there's been no public announcement. 

Blasting scheduled for Medical Center Metro/Walter Reed tunnel project this morning

An underground controlled blast is scheduled for this morning, February 27, between 11:00 AM and noon along Rockville Pike, in front of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Medical Center Metro station, according to Phil Alperson, BRAC coordinator for Montgomery County. The blasting is related to a BRAC pedestrian tunnel project that runs beneath the road (see diagram above for exact location). Another blast is scheduled for this Friday, March 2, between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

BLASTING REQUIRED AT 4500 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY SITE, W LANE OF PEARL ST. TO CLOSE MARCH 12

The office building project at the former Bethesda McDonald's site (4500 East-West Highway) is about to get complicated.

If you work in one of the many office buildings nearby, or live in the Topaz House or Riviera and are at home during daytime hours, it's also going to get loud.

Workers excavating at the south end of the site have struck a layer of solid rock. An engineering study has clarified that blasting is necessary to continue excavation.

Blasting will begin in the coming weeks. If you live around Bethesda Row, you know the drill.

If not, here is the signal code explosive technicians will use during blasting at this site:

° Long horn blast warning, 5 minutes before detonation

° 3 short horn signal immediately before detonation

° "All Clear" long horn blast after explosion

Isn't that going to be fun?

The other big news, is that the western lane of Pearl Street will close "on or around" Tuesday, March 12, 2013.  Pearl Street, as I reported a few weeks ago, will become a southbound-only, one-way street for the duration of the building construction.

That western lane of Pearl will be sealed off with jersey barriers. And driver information signage will be placed along East-West Highway and Montgomery Avenue.

Support pile installation is now complete, and excavation will continue concurrent with blasting operations.