BRADLEY SHOPPING CENTER ROOF MAINTENANCE UNDERWAY (PHOTOS)

In case you've been worried about all of the scaffolding and pedestrian shielding all across the front of the Bradley Shopping Center recently - don't be.

All shops are open during the roof work, including the Barber Shop, so you can still get that haircut.

BETHESDA ROW SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Work continues on the Elm Street sidewalk and curb at Bethesda Row.

MYSTERY TRENCH DUG ON ELM STREET AT BETHESDA ROW (PHOTOS)

A surprisingly deep trench appeared on Elm Street, in front of Mamma Lucia at Bethesda Row yesterday.

It has the appearance of a utility pipe dig of some sort, but nothing is posted to inform people about what's going on there.

WATCH YOUR STEP AROUND BETHESDA ROW - LITERALLY! (PHOTOS)

I sense a sidewalk theme today!  I promise this is the last sidewalk story today, but it's an important one.

A sidewalk project has begun around Bethesda Row. Unlike the controversial sidewalk retrofits left unfinished by the SHA all over town, this work goes beyond just intersections.

Right now, portions of the sidewalk are being replaced along Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues.

I bring this to your attention, because I witnessed a woman trip on one of these yesterday on Bethesda Avenue.  Fortunately, she was able to regain her balance, and did not fall.  But these can be dangerous, particularly with the larger crowds of shoppers this week.  Someone could get seriously hurt, or even killed, depending how they land on a hard surface like that.

CORDELL-ST. ELMO GARAGE CLOSED ON ONE SIDE

Work continues inside the county Public Parking Garage on St. Elmo Avenue and Cordell Avenue.

The garage is now closed on the Cordell side

Cordell entrance

The St. Elmo side is open, but you can't
turn left here

WHY IS EVERY BRICK IN THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHASE CONDOS BEING REPLACED?

The latest mystery repairs to confound the curious in downtown Bethesda are at The Chase on Woodmont Avenue.

Covers shield exterior ventilation from dust and debris at The Chase

It seems like every brick in the building's facade is being painstakingly replaced.  I'm not an engineer, much less a mason, so I have no idea why this is being done.  I can't recall this happening at another building in Bethesda in my lifetime.

Where's Fix-it Felix when you need him?

Two notable points about this:  First, the last unit was finally sold in this building not long before this work began.  Ironically, one of the selling points to buyers was that the building had just been renovated.  So if you bought there, you probably thought you'd enjoy living without major maintenance projects for a while.  Guess again!

These masons don't just do windows...

...the brick replacement is quite extensive.

Second, I recall some discussion online about masonry tuckpointing at The Chase.  Again, I'm no expert on that, but that is an intermediary step taken short of a full brick replacement.  I cannot find that particular message board posting today - and of course, you can't trust anonymous postings online anyway.  The masonry reference didn't make much sense at the time.  But I wish I'd paid more attention to that discussion, given this new context.

FIRST PEPCO TRUCKS SPOTTED IN BETHESDA AS STORM POWER OUTAGES CONTINUE

HELP MAY BE ON THE WAY

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

I received this photo from a Bethesda resident who passed this long convoy of out-of-state utility trucks heading westbound on River Road after 5:00 PM.  A tree trimming Asplundh truck was in the convoy.

A convoy of utility trucks heads west on River Road
in Bethesda Sunday.

The convoy passes through a dark intersection where
many homes and businesses remain without power tonight.

Driving west on River Road (they are pictured here at River and Willard Avenue/Greenway Drive), they would be passing neighborhoods without power.  Neighborhoods off River Road I checked remained dark as of 10 PM tonight.  Most of the commercial area on River Road between Ridgefield Road and Little Falls Parkway (including Whole Foods and several gas stations) remained dark today.

Has anyone in Bethesda or Potomac along the River Road corridor had their power restored?  The trucks appeared headed in that direction.  Feel free to post a comment below regarding your neighborhood or building power status.

A second sign of Pepco at work was the restoration of power to the traffic signal at Arlington Road-Old Georgetown Road in downtown Bethesda.  With a 5-way intersection, you can imagine what a nightmare that was for police and drivers alike.

Conflicting weather reports say no storms tonight, or storms between 12-3 AM!  Roll the dice, I guess, but take precautions and play it safe.

Stay tuned for updates on Twitter @BethesdaRow and stay cool!

CAPITAL CRESCENT

TRAIL BUMPS BEGONE

This may be a first in Montgomery County: the county government removing bumps, rather than installing them!

If you noticed bumps on the Capital Crescent Trail near the railroad tunnel and intersection with the Little Falls Trail, and north of the Massachusetts Avenue railroad bridge, there is good news.

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has eliminated them, so it will be smooth-riding again. As you can imagine, dangerously bumpy surfaces and bikes are a bad combination.

OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

TO GET COMPLETE

OVERHAUL

County Promises Aerial Crossing Will

Remain in Operation Throughout Repairs

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

One of "New Bethesda's" most prominent landmarks is getting an overhaul. This spring, Montgomery County will begin an 8-month renovation of the pedestrian bridge over Old Georgetown Road.

The bridge connects Bethesda Place with The Metropolitan (which also houses the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, and a 1,100 space public parking garage).

90 feet long, this bridge is only 13 years old. I can actually remember the Metropolitan being built. It was just a skeletal framework, and all of the car horns honking in the traffic jams were echoing inside of it. Once completed, the bridge - like the Bethesda Metro Center - became a symbol of the "new" Bethesda, and the futuristic potential ahead. Alas, the record, architecturally-speaking, since then has been quite the mixed bag.

What are they doing to the bridge?

Cleaning, painting, fascia repairs, cladding and railing support replacement.

The east end approach bridge connection will be replaced. A new truss bridge drainage system will be installed. Stamped, lightweight concrete will replace the existing concrete pavers.

Last, but not least, they'll replace the expansion joint that connects the truss bridge with the approach bridge.

Got all that?

Do you use this bridge? If so, you'll be glad to know that - according to the county - the bridge will remain open during all of this work.

Now that is amazing, given the above list of repairs. This bridge has served the public well for over a decade, and this work will ensure it continues to do so well into the future.