Pedestrian refuges installed in Springfield neighborhood in Bethesda (Photos)

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has begun installing pedestrian refuge islands in the Springfield neighborhood of Bethesda over the last several weeks, on Springfield Drive and Cromwell Drive. Pictured here is the latest that was just constructed on Springfield Drive at Ridgefield Road. They essentially provide a somewhat-protected spot mid-crosswalk where pedestrians can pause. These have become familiar on many urban streets in the county, where trucks and reckless drivers tend to damage or dislodge the "State Law" signage. It will be interesting to see how long these last.

Two cars stolen in one night from Springfield neighborhood in Bethesda

Auto thieves stole two cars in one night from homes in the Springfield neighborhood in Bethesda. Over the night from June 7 to June 8, 2025, thieves took vehicles from the 5600 block of Lamar Road and the 5800 block of Searl Terrace. Fortunately, Montgomery County police were able to trace and recover both vehicles within 48 hours. However, the suspects remain at-large. Make sure to lock your vehicles, do not leave keys or key fobs in the ignition or glove compartment, and remove any visible items from inside the cabin.

Westbard electrical grid fails again in Bethesda

The ongoing problems with Pepco's electrical grid in the Westbard area of Bethesda reared their ugly head again early yesterday afternoon. Customers in the Springfield neighborhood reported experiencing a brownout Thursday, February 20, 2025, between 1:24 and 1:26 PM. A second brownout occurred at 2:21 PM, and lasted about 90 seconds. As of 2:58 PM Thursday, about 50 Pepco customers in the Westbard area were experiencing a power outage that the utility estimated would take two to three hours to restore.

There was no severe weather in the area at the time of the power outages. One reader reported seeing Pepco crews working on power lines along River Road and Willard Avenue at the time. Such outages and brownouts can cause severe or fatal damage to appliances and devices that are plugged in during the sudden power cut-off and surge of restoration. 

If you were affected by the brownouts, make a record of it, and of any subsequent failure of appliances in your home, so you can seek reimbursement for damages caused by the faulty grid - not an "act of God." It remains unclear if the repeated brownouts since 2017 are related to the major redevelopment and construction along Westbard Avenue and the since-renamed block of Ridgefield Road, which began at that time. What is clear, is that there are issues with the grid in the Westbard area, as all of the incidents have occurred when there was no severe weather at the time of the brownouts or outages.

Bethesda residents wonder when Montgomery County Council will act on failing Westbard infrastructure

Infrastructure Week? The Westbard area of Bethesda needs Infrastructure Month. Residents were reminded of that yet again last night, during the latest complete power failure. Meteorologists raved all day on TV and radio about just how perfect the weather was Tuesday. But at 7:29 PM, residents in the Springfield neighborhood report, there was a total power outage. Homes were dark for a total of three minutes before power was restored at 7:32 PM, potentially damaging household appliances and devices that were plugged in to charge or operate at that time.

The blackout follows two weeks of lengthy Xfinity service outages in the same area of Bethesda. Neither Pepco nor Comcast has publicly announced the cause of the service interruptions. The Westbard area has experienced power outages and brownouts since 2018, when redevelopment of the area got underway. Whether the Pepco and Comcast grids are failing due to age, construction on Westbard Avenue, or the increased demand to power the new development at Westbard is unclear as long as Montgomery County and the utilities maintain silence on the issue.

Montgomery County elected officials, who approved the growth in the 2016 Westbard sector plan, have been sound asleep at the switch throughout the outages. They've continuously failed to step up to the plate to represent their constituents, while collecting ever-rising six-figure salaries on the County Council. 

Water main break spawns sinkhole in Bethesda

A major water main break turned into a major sinkhole on Cromwell Drive in Bethesda, directly in front of Wood Acres Elementary School, on Tuesday. The sinkhole formed in the 5800 block of Cromwell, between Newington Road and Wiltshire Drive. In addition to causing a prolonged shutdown of the street in that area while a WSSC crew attempted to make repairs, the sinkhole blocked some residents into their driveways. This is, by far, the worst water main damage seen in the Springfield neighborhood in some time. It's fortunate no one was hurt or caught in their vehicle when this collapsed.

Speed limit reduced on Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda

The Maryland State Highway Administration has reduced the speed limit on Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda from 35 MPH to 30 MPH. New signage has been installed on the section of the state highway between Sangamore Road and Westmoreland Circle at the Maryland-Washington, D.C. border, with yellow tags that read, "NEW." 

The remainder of the road, a two-lane segment between Sangamore and Goldsboro Road, was already set at 30 MPH. This latest adjustment follows a more drastic speed limit reduction on River Road, from 45 to 35 MPH. As with River Road, there was no public process or advance notice of the plan to change the speed limit.

Kenwood wants street name of new Brookside Drive block in Bethesda changed

Montgomery County recently designated the new extension segment of Westbard Avenue to River Road in Bethesda as the 5600 block of "Brookside Drive." As I anticipated, the Kenwood neighborhood across River is not happy about this. Not only is there concern about confusion for drivers, as Brookside Drive is officially in Chevy Chase as opposed to Bethesda, but Brookside Drive is an elite street address strongly associated with Kenwood. Kenwood's citizens association has asked Montgomery County to change it. According to the Springfield Civic Association, the County renamed the new block Brookside Drive "because our neighbors on the 5500 Block of Westbard have decided to keep their addresses on Westbard and so a different name is needed for that stretch of newly realigned road."

Montgomery County's Planning Department will make the final decision whether to change the name, and what the replacement name will be. It is soliciting a list of suggestions from both the Springfield and Kenwood neighborhoods, which members of their respective civic associations will begin voting on between today and December 8. Names cannot be similar to existing street names within Montgomery County.

Write-in votes are allowed. It's unclear if the Planning Department will consider additional names at a later point in the process. 

Might I suggest writing in a few names that are actually related to the location? Petey Greene was the pioneering African-American broadcaster whose program was recorded a short walk from this street at the WDCA-20 television studios. His colleague, Dick Dyzsel, is well-known locally, and recognized among horror fans nationally for his Count Gore de Vol persona. Andy Russo was a president of the Springfield Civic Association who tragically passed away at an early age. The late Carlos Bonds was the longtime owner of the Citgo station on Westbard Avenue. Peter Posey owned the farm that the Springfield neighborhood later was developed on. 

This is a unique opportunity to help create a "sense of place" unique to the Westbard area, but it could end up being yet another missed opportunity if a generic name is chosen. 

Westbard Avenue access restored from River Road/Brookside Drive intersection in Bethesda (Photos)

The realigned segment of Westbard Avenue was reopened to automobile traffic at the intersection of River Road and Brookside Drive in Bethesda yesterday. Formerly the lowest block of Ridgefield Road, the heavily-traveled artery had been closed since early summer 2022. Drivers can once again reach the Westwood Shopping Center and other businesses on Westbard Avenue from River Road without detouring a roundabout way. Still barricaded is the new segment of Westbard between what is being called Brookside Drive and Ridgefield Road. That portion of the new street grid will open to the public on December 1, 2023.

New traffic signals now activated

Westbard Avenue looking toward its
intersection with Ridgefield Road - this
segment will open to the public on December 1

Is your home or business eligible for a Montgomery County security camera rebate?

Montgomery County has launched a new security camera rebate program for residents and businesses in select "priority areas" of the county, to combat the ongoing spike in crime. If your home is within one of these priority areas, you can receive a rebate on a security camera purchase of up to $250. So, if the camera is $250 or less, it will be free, minus installation or other costs beyond the camera itself. For businesses and non-profit organizations, the rebate tops out at $1250. 

The camera must meet certain standards set by the Montgomery County Police Department, and you must keep footage taken by the camera for at least 7 days. See all the requirements and fine print at the security camera program website.

You can check if your address is within a priority area using the Montgomery County police GIS map for the program. Among the priority areas are the Westbard commercial district, part of the Springfield neighborhood in Bethesda, parts of Rockville and Derwood near MD 355, large portions of Gaithersburg and Germantown, commercial areas of Olney and Damascus, and downtown Silver Spring. 

“Today we implemented our Private Security Camera Incentive Program, created to protect Montgomery County businesses and residents in areas experiencing relatively high incidences of crime,” County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz said in a statement. “Last year, my Council colleagues and I passed Bill 14-22, an opt-in program that lets businesses and individuals apply to receive a voucher or rebate to offset the cost of a security camera on their property. We are currently facing heightened security issues in every aspect of our daily lives. This program is even more important today than it was when it was passed a year ago. We look forward to working with MCPD to provide additional support to our businesses and residents with the greatest need.” 

Car stolen in Springfield neighborhood of Bethesda

Montgomery County police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from a home in the Springfield neighborhood of Bethesda this past Sunday morning, July 23, 2023. The vehicle was taken from the driveway of a home in the 5500 block of Parkston Road. Remember to lock your vehicle, remove all visible objects from the interior, and do not leave keys in the ignition or glove compartment.

Theft-from-auto rampage in Springfield, Sumner, Glen Echo Heights neighborhoods of Bethesda

Multiple residents in the Springfield, Sumner and Glen Echo Heights neighborhoods in Bethesda awoke on February 5, 2023 to find items missing from inside their vehicles. One resident in Glen Echo Heights found their car missing altogether. Streets that were hit by the thieves included Ogden Road, Ogden Court, Madawaska Road, Wissioming Road, Knollwood Road, Nahant Street, Wapakoneta Road, Namakagan Road and Newington Road. Remember to lock vehicles, do not leave any visible objects inside the car, and do not leave your keys in the ignition or glove compartment.

Springfield Drive sign on River Road vandalized

A Maryland State Highway Administration directional sign for Springfield Drive on River Road has been vandalized with graffiti. The wording is illegible. Is it a gang tag, or just someone upset about the Ridgefield Road/Westbard Avenue closures? 

Second assault in a week on Cromwell Drive in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to a home on Cromwell Drive to investigate a 2nd-degree assault for the second time in a week on Wednesday morning, December 14, 2022. The assault was reported at a residence in the 5700 block of Cromwell at 8:25 AM. That's two blocks up the street from where the first assault was reported in a yard on Cromwell on December 8.

Assault in yard of Bethesda home

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault in the Springfield neighborhood of Bethesda late Thursday night, December 8, 2022. The assault was reported in the yard of a home in the 5300 block of Cromwell Drive at 11:04 PM.

Ridgefield Road speed limit drops to 20 MPH in area affected by Westbard closures

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has reduced the speed limit on Ridgefield Road in Bethesda from 25 to 20 MPH between Westbard Avenue and Springfield Drive. That stretch of the Springfield neighborhood has carried heavy volumes of cut-through traffic since Ridgefield was closed between River Road and Westbard this past summer. It is scheduled to reopen with a realigned Westbard Avenue in October 2023. The segment of the street where the new speed limit has been set is entirely residential.

More "No Trucks" signage added to Ridgefield Road in Bethesda (Photos)

Montgomery County has added more "No Trucks" signage on Ridgefield Road in Bethesda, as truckers continue to use the neighborhood streets in Springfield to get around the long-term closure of Ridgefield between River Road and Westbard Avenue. Truck drivers passing the first two "No trucks over 10,000 lbs." signs on River and Springfield Drive will now see - and likely also ignore - these two additional signs when turning from Springfield onto Ridgefield. The lowest block of Ridgefield will remain closed through October 2023, as Westbard Avenue is realigned to connect to River Road at the same traffic signal.

New sign on Springfield Drive in Bethesda as cut-through drivers keep on trucking

Cut-through traffic generated by the closures of Ridgefield Road and Westbard Avenue at River Road continues to plague the Springfield neighborhood in Bethesda. As most people with common sense predicted, signs are not deterring drivers who understandably balk at Montgomery County's official detours that would take them miles out of their way. Another prediction that came true? 18-wheelers with business on Westbard Avenue, banned from one of the detours - Little Falls Parkway, are taking to Springfield Drive and the upper blocks of Ridgefield in strong numbers.

A Frito-Lay semi, which regularly delivers snacks to the Giant on Westbard, was seen rolling through the neighborhood in recent days. It struck tree limbs as it made its way along streets not meant for truck traffic.

Montgomery County has a new solution - yet another sign. "No trucks over 10,000 lbs," the sign on Springfield Drive reads. It won't work, either, for two reasons. One, we know drivers ignore signs. Second, the sign is placed where it will only be seen after the truck driver has committed to entering Springfield Drive. The only positive thing about the sign is that it represents the County's first public acknowledgement that the big rigs are indeed rolling through the neighborhood.

Homes burglarized in Green Acres, Springfield neighborhoods in Bethesda; car stolen from one

An overnight rash of burglaries in southwest Bethesda kept Montgomery County police officers busy early Tuesday morning. At least two homes were burglarized in the 5200 block of Baltimore Avenue in Green Acres. During the same time period, at least one home was burglarized a few blocks up Massachusetts Avenue in the 5300 block of Brookeway Drive in Springfield. A car was then stolen from a home on that block.

Officers found no signs of forced entry at the homes. This suggests that the burglars were testing doors, and taking advantage when finding an unlocked one. Another good reminder to ensure all entry doors and accessible windows are locked at night.

Truckers on unofficial detour through Bethesda neighborhood as Ridgefield Rd. closure debacle continues (Photo)

18-wheeler that just drove through the
Springfield neighborhood turns right from
Ridgefield Road onto Westbard Avenue

The freedom convoy through the Springfield neighborhood of Bethesda continues, as commuters, shoppers and truckers predictably continue to cut through the residential community as the shortest way around the poorly-planned closures of Ridgefield Road and Westbard Avenue at River Road. Nearly one week ago, Ridgefield was shut down between Westbard and River, and Westbard was closed to traffic between River and Ridgefield. Official detours that take most drivers miles out of their way using Goldsboro Road or Little Falls Parkway, as anyone with common sense predicted in advance, are being widely ignored. Instead, drivers of vehicles large and small are using Springfield Drive and the upper blocks of Ridgefield to reach Westbard or River, taking them through an entirely residential area.

Trucks of all sizes have been using the unofficial route all week, including the 18-wheeler pictured above. This isn't surprising either, as it's not only the shortest detour, but trucks are not allowed to use one of the official detour routes, Little Falls Parkway.

There's no way to enforce the "local traffic only" signs, But this is why the plan to completely shut down the lowest block of Ridgefield at River for 16 months was such a bad idea. Unfortunately, the Montgomery County Council and Transportation Department chose to steamroll ahead with the closures, and we're seeing the totally-predictable results. 

Ridgefield Road closure generating expected cut-through traffic in Springfield neighborhood of Bethesda

Traffic on Ridgefield Road in the Springfield neighborhood of Bethesda was well above normal during this morning's rush hour, after Montgomery County approved a 16-month shutdown of the main feeder route to the Westbard Avenue commercial area, the block of Ridgefield between Westbard and River Road. Entry to Westbard Avenue from River Road was also shut off by the County Department of Transportation, shifting all cut-through traffic onto Ridgefield and Springfield Drive.

The volume of traffic has increased as the days go on, as drivers surprised by the closure have time to figure out their own unofficial detours. As predicted, the official detours are not being used, as they take most drivers miles out of their way. Truck traffic has also been higher on the residential blocks of Ridgefield; trucks cannot use the Little Falls Parkway detour. All of this was predictable, but the County Department of Transportation and County Council approved the closures anyway.

Here's a video of the road work on the closed section of Ridgefield, and of the barricades on Westbard between Ridgefield and River Road: