Bethesda Row sidewalk expansion update (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress on the expansion of the sidewalk on the Elm Street side of Bethesda Row, between Arlington Road and Woodmont Avenue. With the wider sidewalk, there will be more space for outdoor dining, as well as for pedestrians. New pavers have been installed on a significant portion of the block. The project has been underway since late August 2023.

Sidewalk repairs (and closures) expand to Elm Street in Bethesda (Photos)

Pedestrians beware: the sidewalk closures for repairs have expanded across town to the Bethesda Row/Shoppes of Bethesda area on Elm Street. There are several closures on the Shoppes of Bethesda side of Elm Street between Arlington Road and Woodmont Avenue. Unlike the closures on St. Elmo Avenue, where pedestrians are entering the roadway to get down the street, the sidewalk on the Bethesda Row side of the street remains open.

Barricades erected on Elm Street at Bethesda Row (Photos)

It looks like some kind of work is about to begin on the Elm Street side of Bethesda Row. Barricades were erected along the block between Arlington Road and Woodmont Avenue on Thursday, closing off sections of the sidewalk and street parking spaces. There is also some metal fencing. All businesses on Elm Street remain open.

Mystery structure rising on Elm Street in Bethesda (Photos)

A mysterious framework of a structure is rising on Elm Street near Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. It is in the street, not on the Hampden House construction site. Work is resuming on the future south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station, which will be located alongside Elm Street, as well as an elevator shaft for that entrance and for the Purple Line. However, no public announcement was made about this structure that has appeared, and I've never seen anything like this erected above-grade during construction of other underground Metro facilities in the past. The structure must be temporary, as Elm Street will reopen once the Purple Line station is completed.

Pedestrian/bicycle detour on Elm Street in Bethesda

There is an "official" detour for pedestrians and cyclists on Elm Street, as the top of the street at Wisconsin Avenue remains closed due to construction of the future Bethesda Purple Line station. It is directing pedestrians and cyclists to cut through a courtyard on Elm Street to reach Hampden Lane and Wisconsin. A sign advises that businesses on Elm Street, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works and The Barking Dog, are open despite the obstructions on Elm at Wisconsin. The sign must have been printed awhile back, though, because it lists Gusto Farm to Street, which has since been replaced by Mexicue.

Wooden pedestrian walkway installed on Elm Street alongside The Wilson, The Elm in Bethesda (Photos)

Elm Street remains closed at the west side of Wisconsin Avenue, as it has been since January 2017. As the new construction contractor for the Purple Line light rail project gears up to resume work on Elm, a new pedestrian elevated walkway has been constructed from Wisconsin down Elm alongside The Wilson and The Elm. 

Crews will be working on the Purple Line Bethesda station underneath those two buildings, and on the access points for Purple Line and southern entrance to the Bethesda Metro Red Line station on Elm Street. In other Purple Line news, crews are scheduled to resume erection of sound barriers along the railway's route in the vicinity of East-West Highway, working from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM seven days a week as necessary.

Elm Street sidewalk reopens between Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues

Pedestrians haven't been able to walk from Woodmont Avenue to Wisconsin Avenue on Elm Street for several years, during the construction of The Wilson and The Elm at 7272 Wisconsin in Bethesda. That changed yesterday, as the sidewalk reopened the length of the block, on the south side of Elm. You still can't drive all the way up Elm, however.

Elm Street Pepco project update (Photos)

A section of Elm Street between Wisconsin Avenue and Woodmont Avenue has been closed for a week now in downtown Bethesda. Pepco is relocating utilities in preparation for construction of a south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station at Elm and Wisconsin. 

Wisconsin Avenue in front of
the vacant gas station that will be
redeveloped by Bainbridge 

Lines designating Pepco
underground utilities along
Wisconsin Avenue sidewalk

Digging up the infrastructure extends beyond Elm, though. Part of it is along the sidewalk on Wisconsin Avenue north of Elm Street. The work is expected to take another seven months and three weeks to complete.

Downtown Bethesda's future
in the hands of pharmacists