Citibank Wisconsin Avenue construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress of construction on the new Citibank branch at 8101 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. A large signage unit has been erected on the property, but it is blank for the moment. The exterior of the building appears to be nearing completion. This was previously a TD Bank.

Construction begins on GW Immediate and Primary Care clinic at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Construction is now underway on the future GW Immediate and Primary Care clinic on Arlington Road at Bethesda Row. The clinic will be staffed by personnel from The GW Medical Faculty Associates, a non-profit medical group spun off from George Washington University in 2000. As the name suggests, it provides typical urgent care services, as well as long-term primary care. It currently has three clinics in Washington, D.C., located in Cleveland Park, McPherson Square, and near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station.

Bethesda construction update: Experimac (Photos)

A lot of progress to report on the interior build-out at the future Experimac shop in the Bainbridge Bethesda apartment tower on Fairmont Avenue. The store will buy, sell and repair Apple products.

They've also posted their hours on the door, and the sign out front is lit. These type of repair shops seem to be a booming new market trend, as my first story this morning was about the newest one just announced.

DUNKIN' DONUTS BETHESDA METRO CENTER CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Construction continues to progress rapidly inside the new Dunkin' Donuts within the Clark Building. Meanwhile, this nifty new hanging sign has been suspended outside the store, located at the Bethesda Metro Center. If you missed my last update, we're about two weeks from the grand opening.

YES, THOSE FAIRMONT AVENUE RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS ARE STILL OPEN (PHOTOS) - BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Protected walkways, hulking construction equipment, yards of barricades... Fairmont Avenue isn't looking very hospitable these days. But your favorite shops and eateries along that block between Norfolk Avenue and Old Georgetown Road want you to know they're still open.

BETHESDA CRANE WEEK: LIFE OF A CRANE OPERATOR

Bethesda Crane Week continues!  Wednesday, you learned crane signals.  But what about the brave men and women who climb into the clouds and operate these machines?

It's not a lifestyle for the faint of heart!

Up on these rigs, even getting lunch is a major operation.  And there's no elevator ride to the top, either.

Experience the crane operator's non-operating challenges vicariously, in these exclusive photos:

In this close-up, you can see the ladders leading
up to the crane rig.  That's Triangle Towers in
the background

Click to enlarge this, and you'll see an
intrepid crane man making the climb

The day is over, but the crane men can't carry
their lunch coolers down; they're lowered down

A long way down!

"Hope I screwed that Thermos lid on tight!"

"Don't drop my egg salad!"

In case you doubted those were really lunch coolers

MASSIVE CRANES RISE ABOVE DOWNTOWN BETHESDA - EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS!!

Construction crews and big rigs flooded into downtown Bethesda Saturday, giving a hint of the development to come.

One crew worked at Bainbridge's The Monty, while the other was at That 70s Building [a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda].  Both teams assembled towering cranes at their respective sites.

Here is an exclusive photo gallery:

Beyond Jiffy Shoppes and Chef Tony's on
St. Elmo, the Bainbridge crane begins to
take shape

Flagmen stop traffic as workers prepare to
raise the crane's cab up to its
gravity-defying perch

There it goes!  Up...

...up...

...up!  The Eagle has landed

Meet Crane #2, assisting construction of
That 70s Building between Del Ray and
Auburn Avenues

Auburn Avenue was completely shut down
for assembly of the Miller and Long crane.
Note the vintage WHFS radio transmitting
tower atop Triangle Towers

A classic Freightliner truck stands by as the
crew prepares to hoist a counterweight up
to the crane arm

We have liftoff of the counterweight

Counterweight on its way up...

...way up...

...waaaaay up...

Almost there...

Success!  Now to secure it in place...

Counterweights securely in place

View of assembled Miller & Long crane
from ...Miller & Long!