MacArthur Boulevard lane closures expected through June 17 in Bethesda

Anticipate single-lane closures on two-lane MacArthur Boulevard in the Bethesda between today and June 17, 2024. The closures will be in the area between Goldsboro Road and Walhonding Road on weekdays between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Aqueduct crews will be repairing the Old Conduit aqueduct, the 9' diameter tunnel that has been transporting water from the Potomac River to the Dalecarlia Reservoir since 1863. The Corps reports that inspections (see photo above) have raised structural integrity concerns, damage blamed on violations of vehicle weight restrictions on MacArthur Boulevard, which sits above the aqueduct.

Images courtesy USACE

WSSC issues Boil Water Advisory for Cabin John, Glen Echo

The WSSC has issued a Boil Water Advisory for Cabin John and Glen Echo. A water main break in a 12-inch pipe running under MacArthur Boulevard caused water pressure in the line to drop to a level where contamination is possible. Customers in the area shown on the map above should bring water to a boil before using for drinking, brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing baby food or formula, making ice, or as drinking water for pets. WSSC will test samples for contamination once repairs to the line are complete, and lift the advisory once the results show it is safe.

Police enforcing weight limits on Cabin John Aqueduct Bridge

Montgomery County police conducted an operation to enforce weight limits on the 158-year-old Cabin John Aqueduct Bridge in Cabin John yesterday. Several police cruisers sat on the east side of the bridge, awaiting commercial truck drivers who ignored two vehicle weight restriction signs posted between Wilson Lane and the west end of the bridge. The bridge, like MacArthur Boulevard itself, carries the Washington Aqueduct that supplies water from Great Falls to the Dalecarlia Reservoir. It spans Cabin John Creek and the Cabin John Parkway, and was completed in 1864.

Another commercial burglary spree in Bethesda

Another wave of overnight commercial burglaries swept over the Bethesda area early yesterday morning, stretching from Friendship Heights to Glen Echo, Cabin John and Potomac. Montgomery County police responded to a burglar alarm at an unspecified clothing store in the 5500 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights at 1:39 AM Monday morning, August 1, 2022. Police responded next to the alarm at the Montgomery County liquor store at 10132 River Road in Potomac at 2:24 AM, Market on the Boulevard at 7945 MacArthur Boulevard in Cabin John at 2:34 AM, and the Glen Echo Pharmacy at 7311 MacArthur Boulevard at 5:37 AM. 

Officers found evidence of forced entry at each establishment. A rash of commercial burglaries covered some of the same territory along with the Westwood Shopping Center on June 24, a Bethesda Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins was broken into July 15, and Smoke BBQ in downtown Bethesda was hit last weekend.

Glen Echo pharmacy burglarized

One or more thieves broke into a drugstore in Glen Echo early Sunday morning, March 27, 2022. Montgomery County police responded to a forced entry at a pharmacy in the 7300 block of MacArthur Boulevard at 4:15 AM yesterday, according to crime data. The Glen Echo Pharmacy is located in the shopping center on that block.

Westbard Domino's Pizza relocating to Glen Echo (Photos)

The Domino's Pizza Westbard-area store that just closed in the Westwood Center II will relocate in the coming months to Glen Echo. Construction has begun at the Glen Echo Center at 7300 MacArthur Boulevard. 

The space was previously a dry cleaners, and has to be converted for restaurant and pizza oven use. A new ventilation shaft will be installed, among other changes. Interestingly, the new Domino's spot is right next to Glen Echo Pizza & Subs, known for its 29" Party Pizza and extensive menu that even has burgers and fried seafood on it. Domino's can always bring back its 30" Dominator if necessary!

Power outage in Glen Echo

Update: Pepco now estimates restoration of power by 12:00 PM

Bethesda-area residents are being greeted with a power outage for the third morning in a row today. Right now, 66 Pepco customers in Glen Echo are in the dark. Pepco says a crew is on-site, and they estimate power will be restored by 10:00 AM.

New traffic signal on MacArthur Boulevard in Glen Echo

A new traffic signal is being installed on MacArthur Boulevard at the entry/exit for the Clara Barton Parkway in Glen Echo. The intersection has been governed by stop signs up to this point. This is just east of the Irish Inn and Glen Echo Park.

Armed robbery at Glen Echo convenience store as police investigate another at a Bethesda 7-Eleven

Even as Montgomery County police detectives investigate the armed robbery of the 7-Eleven at 5114 River Road that took place on December 19, a nearby convenience store in Glen Echo has fallen victim to the same crime. Police have not identified the latest target of armed robbers by name, but the business is described as a convenience store in the 7300 block of MacArthur Boulevard in Montgomery County crime data. That store was held up last night around 8:30 PM. There is a 7-Eleven on that block of MacArthur.

Police have released surveillance camera images of the suspect in the robbery of the River Road 7-Eleven. Detectives believe he escaped in a Chevrolet sedan, but have not yet given a description of the model, year or color of that car.

Anyone with information about the suspect or this armed robbery is asked to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5100.  Those who wish to remain anonymous may contact Crime Solvers by phone: 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), online, or via the Crime Solvers app. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest in this case.

Strong-arm robbery in Glen Echo

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Glen Echo last Thursday night. The robbery was reported at a retail store in the 7300 block of MacArthur Boulevard around 8:04 PM.

Nighttime mystery noise in Bethesda is real (Audio/Video+Photos)

Lights from resurfacing project on
Clara Barton Parkway as seen from
MacArthur Boulevard in Glen Echo

The mysterious, low humming sound keeping some Bethesda residents awake at night is real. I've now heard it myself Friday night/Saturday morning, Monday night/Tuesday morning, and last night. I still cannot definitively confirm that the noise is coming from the resurfacing project on Clara Barton Parkway, but did find that work going on at those times. 

The problem is that the mystery noise is about as loud as resurfacing would be a block away, at a distance of a mile away from the parkway. Yes, there is quite a bit of noise from the road work audible from MacArthur Boulevard directly above it in Glen Echo. But it doesn't seem as loud there as it should be based on the volume at further-away distances, and the noise as recorded here doesn't sound the way it does far away:

Resurfacing Sunday night and early Monday morning was just east of Glen Echo Park on Clara Barton Parkway, as contractors work their way into the District by December. But I will continue investigating, in case this is coming from another source. For now, I've confirmed that, no, you aren't hearing things; the noise is real.

Mystery noise keeping some Bethesda residents up at night

Several Bethesda and D.C. residents who live near the Potomac River inside the Beltway are reporting that they hear a loud, low humming sound during the night in recent months. There have been other nighttime noise mysteries from time to time in that area since the 1980s. Some would attribute them to secret goings-on at intelligence and military facilities in Sumner or Carderock.

While we can't definitively declare the current mystery solved, there's a possibility this particular noise may not require the attention of Fox Mulder. Since late summer, National Park Service contractors have been repaving Clara Barton Parkway. This work was to begin at Carderock and work its way in towards the District line by the end of the year.

The noise described does sound consistent with that heard in the River Road corridor when it was repaved about three years ago. Long, low humming and growling noises. At a distance, or inside structures, the sound may not immediately bring roadway resurfacing to mind.

Topographical factors may enhance the noise in this case. Clara Barton Parkway runs below neighborhoods at the bottom of a steep drop-off from homes located above it along MacArthur Boulevard. So the noise is going to refract off of the higher elevations on either side of the Potomac, and in the quiet of night, be even more noticeable.

Keep the reports coming in, however, in case the Mothman of West Virginia has relocated to our suburbs.

Clara Barton Parkway to be repaved starting July 27

The National Park Service will begin a major repaving project on Clara Barton Parkway on or about July 27, 2020. Contractors will repave the parkway between Carderock and Chain Bridge between then and the end of the year. Paving will begin at Carderock, and proceed eastward toward the District, according to Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center Director Ken Hartman.

Map of section to be
resurfaced; Lock 7 parking
closure shown in inset

NPS says the parking area will temporarily close at Lock 7 along the C&O Canal. The project will also include installing new signage, painting brighter/clearer lane lines and striping, reconfiguring lanes, and trimming vegetation that is close to the road.

Expect non-rush hour lane closures, as well as temporary, 2-week ramp closures. Signs will direct you to the next available exit ramp. The Federal Highway Administration is partnering with the NPS on the project.

Free, Melania author Kate Bennett to appear in Glen Echo Thursday night

CNN correspondent and author Kate Bennett will read from and sign the book everyone is talking about this holiday season - Free, Melania - tomorrow night, Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 6:30  PM at the Glen Echo Town Hall at 6106 Harvard Avenue. This is her only area scheduled appearance on her book tour, so this the chance to get your signed copy for yourself or for those on your Christmas list.

To attend, RSVP to Alexis Feringa at feringa_alexis@yahoo.com.

FAA drops flight path change over Bethesda

Residents have scored a temporary victory in the air wars over western Bethesda. The Federal Aviation Administration just announced it is dropping a proposed Reagan National Airport departure flight path change that would have increased airplane noise over western Bethesda neighborhoods along the Potomac River. Called LAZIR-B, the proposal went through an extensive review process and stirred outrage among affected Northwest D.C. and Bethesda neighborhoods. It would have moved the departure route closer to - and in some spots over - Bethesda homes.

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center Director Ken Hartman represents Montgomery County on the Reagan National Community Noise Working Group. The group overwhelmingly endorsed two recommendations by Montgomery County, which would have kept planes as close to the center of the river as possible, at its November 3 meeting. Combined with overwhelming resident and official opposition, the result was the FAA canceling its plan, which had been advertised as increasing efficiency and lowering the environmental impacts of jet travel.

In a statement, the FAA said it would continue to support the efforts of the Community Noise Working Group.

FAA schedules meeting on proposed flight path change toward Bethesda

Updated 12:00 AM September 3: The meeting location has been moved to downtown Bethesda due to "Back to School Night" at Westland MS. Please note the new location below

A public workshop will be held on September 15 to discuss a proposed flight path change from Reagan National Airport along the Potomac River. The meeting will be held at 6:30 PM at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, which is located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda.

Under the proposed change, the path of jets departing Reagan National would move 1525' closer to the Maryland side of the Potomac from its current departure route. Essentially, neighborhoods in McLean would get a relative break at Bethesda and Palisades residents' expense (though, considering both communities are very wealthy, one has to wonder what would tip the political scales in any particular direction in this case). In official terms, however, the change is part of the NextGen program that the Federal Aviation Administration expects to have significant environmental and efficiency benefits.

Among those predicted benefits, the FAA says, will be the saving of 2.1 million gallons of jet fuel, and 18200 metric tons of carbon. The new flight paths will also improve on-time performance of airlines operating out of major U.S. cities, the agency forecasts.

The FAA says its "noise modeling" of May 2016 tells them that "there would be no significant noise impact" on communities near the new flight path. It should be noted that computer modeling is not the same as measuring actual noise levels in the real world environment.

Attendees will be able to speak individually with experts, and comment on the proposed flight path change. Those comments will be reviewed by the FAA before it makes its final determination this fall.

Map courtesy FAA

Sex offense on Inman Park Cir., car stolen in Pike District + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on December 10, according to crime data:

Theft. Bethesda Metro Center.

Theft. Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5900 block Namakagan Road.

Assault. 7300 block MacArthur Boulevard at 10:37 AM (Glen Echo).

Stolen car. 11900 block Maple Avenue (Pike District).

Drug arrest. Old Georgetown Road at Democracy Boulevard.

Other sexual offense. 5800 block Inman Park Circle.

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Assault. 12100 block Rockville Pike at 3:59 PM (Pike District).

Assault. 12200 block Wilkins Avenue at 7:23 AM (Pike District).

Assault. Newdale Road at Connecticut Avenue at 7:51 AM.

1 hour fugitive recaptured in Chevy Chase, assault at Walter Reed + more - Bethesda crime update

A man who allegedly fled the scene of a traffic accident in Chevy Chase was recaptured after escaping from police custody early Monday morning. The suspect was described in radio communications by Montgomery County Police as a Hispanic male, 5'9", with black hair spiked in front, and wearing a dark grey turtleneck t-shirt, jeans and loafers.

The accident apparently occurred near the intersection of Jones Bridge Road and Montgomery Avenue, but whether more than one vehicle was involved was not immediately clear. A female passenger was transported to the trauma center at Suburban Hospital, according to scanner reports. To my knowledge, no report on the condition of that patient has been released to the public.

Those same scanner transmissions indicated that the suspect managed to escape in handcuffs from the rear of a patrol car. K9 units were called in as police searched the area, eventually joined by Chevy Chase Village Police officers. According to radio reports, police originally arrested the suspect for allegedly fleeing the scene of an accident, and for having materials for manufacturing fake IDs in his vehicle.

Police officers appeared to have created an effective perimeter in boxing-in the temporary fugitive, as he eventually was apprehended on Jones Bridge Road near the original scene. "We got him," an officer radioed about an hour after the manhunt began.

Here's a roundup of other crimes reported across Bethesda on June 22, according to crime data:

Burglary. 4300 block East-West Highway.

Theft. 7300 block Maple Avenue.

Assault. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at 12:13 PM.

Assault. 8500 block Connecticut Avenue at 11:30 PM.

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Drug arrest. Rockville Pike at Pooks Hill Road.

Burglary. 8700 block Fernwood Road.

Vehicle burglary. 9100 block Friars Road (Green Tree Manor).

Theft. 6800 block Algonquin Avenue (Cohasset).

Theft. 10500 block Rockville Pike (Grosvenor).

Burglary. 10400 block Farnham Drive at 4:12 PM (Wildwood Manor).

Vehicle burglary. 5800 block Oxford Road (Glen Echo).

Burglary. 5000 block Nicholson Lane.

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Theft from vehicle. 11600 block Old Georgetown Road (Pike District).

Drug arrest. Westlake Drive at Westlake Terrace.

Vehicle burglary. 6900 block Seven Locks Road (Cabin John).

Power outages in Bethesda, Glen Echo

Two significant power outages have customers in the dark tonight in Bethesda and Glen Echo. The largest involves 2355 Pepco customers in an area roughly around Wilson Lane, River Road and Goldsboro Road. But the outage seems to follow Goldsboro, and a second dark spot is in the Glen Echo area where that road meets MacArthur Boulevard. That outage also extends west to the Wilson Lane area south of River Road.

The gas station and other properties at Goldsboro and MacArthur are all pitch black, as are homes on the west side of Goldsboro. Glen Echo Park still has power, but the traffic signals at Goldsboro and Massachusetts Avenue are out. A truck crew was using their own lighting to try to load deliveries into a business at the retail center when I passed by.

Pepco is estimating a 1:00 AM restoration for Glen Echo and the lower Goldsboro vicinity, but 3:00 AM for the larger outage near Walt Whitman High School.

HOUSE FIRE ON WINNEBAGO ROAD IN GLEN ECHO (PHOTOS)

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue services responded to an exterior fire at a 2-story house in the 6200 block of Winnebago Road in Glen Echo around 1:00 AM this morning. Firefighters extinguished the exterior blaze, and the occupants escaped safely.

According to scanner reports, firefighters checked the interior floors for any spread of fire, and used saws to cut into the exterior. A firefighter on the second floor reported finding no evidence of extension there, and no hot spots in the wall. There was some extension into space between the first floor and the basement, reports indicated, and firefighters had to remove drywall and insulation to check for fire.

Discarded fireplace ashes were left too close to the house, one firefighter reported, and are thought to be the cause of the blaze at this point.

The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad was among the responding departments. MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer says there were no injuries.

Photos via Pete Piringer