Pedestrian cut-through now under construction on Auburn Avenue in Bethesda (Photos)

The pedestrian cut-through from Auburn Avenue to Norfolk Avenue is now under construction behind the new 4909 Auburn apartments. When completed, pedestrians will be able to take this short-cut under the building on Auburn, and follow this walkway to Norfolk Avenue. The amenity was designed as a short-cut between Imagination Stage and Battery Lane Urban Park. Pedestrians will emerge next to the end storefront of the new apartment building on the Norfolk side of the property.

Cross-block passageway opens to public at The Camille in Bethesda (Photos)

A cross-block passageway under The Camille apartments at 7000 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda has opened to the public. The cut-through provides a pedestrian route between Wisconsin and the alleyway behind the building. Illuminated sculptures hang from the ceiling of the passage, which is well-lit at night. The Camille has recently opened to welcome its first tenants; a retail space on the ground level remains available for lease.

First look at new downtown Bethesda pedestrian walkway (Video/photos)

You've seen the bones of this pedestrian walkway coming together from its earliest stages here on this website. Now see the finished product, a new path between the Woodmont/Old Georgetown Road public parking garage and Fairmont Avenue. The path is right next to the new 7770 Norfolk luxury condo tower. It can also be used with the pedestrian plaza alongside the Bainbridge Bethesda apartments to reach St. Elmo Avenue more quickly.

You'll notice more of the accent and security lighting are in place, as well as some very nice landscaping along the way.

New Woodmont Triangle pedestrian path takes shape in Bethesda (Photos)

A new connection between Woodmont Avenue and Fairmont Avenue came to light last evening - literally. When completed, pedestrians - whether walking across the Woodmont Triangle, or simply walking between the parking garage at Woodmont & Old Georgetown Road and their dining or shopping destination - will be able to take a lighted short cut.

The path is on Fairmont Avenue next to the new 7770 Norfolk luxury condo tower, and leads back to the public parking garage. So, for example, if you are dining at Positano on Fairmont, and park in the garage, you would be able to cut through this way rather than going out to Woodmont and walking all the way around the corner by Starbucks.

Looking from the garage toward
Fairmont Avenue. This picture
was taken before the lights
were lit

This path is also meant to work with the new cut-through alongside the Bainbridge Bethesda, to extend access to St. Elmo Avenue. You'll notice it has Bethesda Row-esque stringed lights, and I suspect further aesthetic improvements will be made as the 7770 Norfolk project wraps up in the coming months.

Bethesda Avenue sidewalk reopens, as does path between The Seasons & The Darcy (Photos)

Not only did The Darcy and The Flats at Bethesda Avenue have their grand opening Thursday, but two other pieces of public infrastructure opened, as well.

The sidewalk section on Bethesda Avenue in front of the future PassionFish restaurant has reopened. And the shortcut pathway between The Seasons and The Darcy has also reopened to pedestrians.

As you'll note, they've intelligently installed lighting along the Darcy side of the path for public safety.

New tower crane in Bethesda skyline, new pedestrian path between buildings? (Photos)

While the unannounced street closure of Woodmont Avenue to install a tower crane this weekend caused some grumbling among pedestrians and drivers, the crane is now assembled at the future Solaire Bethesda site at 7100 Wisconsin Avenue. Additionally, it appears work may be beginning on the pedestrian path between The Seasons and The Darcy, which previously allowed a shortcut to and from Bethesda Avenue.

Woodmont Avenue closed on
Sunday as crews wound down
the crane assembly operation -
and we just caught a classic
Chevrolet Caprice Estate
station wagon (L), complete
with wood paneling

Here are some pictures of the possible pedestrian path that could be upgraded between The Seasons and The Darcy:

WOODMONT PEDESTRIAN DETOUR CLOSED - BETHESDA ROW CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The Woodmont Avenue pedestrian detour I wrote about last week  has been permanently sealed off now by Clark Construction, according to Jane Mahaffie of Stonebridge Associates.

Mahaffie says the closure took place Monday, September 10.  I cannot dispute that, because I did not physically go up to the path every day last week.  However, I did check it every night from the Barnes and Noble corner to see if lighting had been added, just not close enough to see that it had been fenced off.  The idea that civilians would somehow just know - through ESP? - that the pathway would close at a later date, is naivete on the developer's half at best.  You can't blame citizens, if you fail to inform them.

Overall, the Woodmont Avenue shutdown operation went like clockwork, and was very impressive.  I just think the question about this pathway fell through the cracks.  All along, I've had lists of the many "moving parts" involved in this project - what's to be done, and when.  Nowhere was it mentioned specifically how pedestrians would access buildings south of Bethesda Row via Woodmont.  Then this detour appeared.

I stand by the points made in my post.  If you examine the photos, you can clearly see that the fencing - and the fact this was left open - very neatly defined a detour.  Many people were using it that weekend.  So many, that it took time to get the photos, waiting for pedestrians to get out of the way for clear photo shots.  And while it was open, it was unsafe at night.  If the pathway was really not a pathway, it should not have been made to resemble one, and never should have been left open.  That was an invitation for trouble, and it's just fortunate nothing happened along there.

The other issue is, this closure really places a burden on those trying to live a car-free lifestyle around Bethesda Row.  One must take the long way via Wisconsin Avenue.  This minor point was not really emphasized in the pre-closure public relations.

On the bright side, we are two weeks closer to getting our 900-space parking garage!

IS NEW WOODMONT AVENUE PEDESTRIAN DETOUR DANGEROUS AT NIGHT? - BETHESDA ROW CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

UNLIT WALKWAY

COULD ATTRACT

TROUBLE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The Woodmont Avenue road closure project created a pedestrian detour alongside The Seasons apartments, for those trying to reach Crescent Plaza or Leland Street on foot from Bethesda Row.

View down pedestrian detour towards Bethesda Avenue.
The only light here is from the camera's flash.  Note
bushes where assailants can hide and wait

Pedestrians emerge from dark walkway here
on Woodmont Avenue

But when the sun goes down, the pathway is unlit.  The prospect is not appealing to those walking alone.  There are even shrubs that potential assailants could hide behind in the dark.  The situation will get even worse, when construction of The Flats walls in the western side of the path.   Essentially, the path will be a dark tunnel.

Daytime view of pedestrian detour

"It made sense at the time, but..."

When construction of The Flats begins here,
the path [running between the fence and
the building] will become a tunnel

That block of Bethesda Avenue can be desolate even on busy evenings at Bethesda Row.  Shouldn't the developers light that walkway, if they aren't planning to already?