Bethesda bikeway on Montgomery Lane nears finish line (Photos)

The leg of the Bethesda bikeway connecting Woodmont Avenue with Montgomery Avenue, via Montgomery Lane, appears to be nearing the finish line. In fact, some cyclists were using the new bike crosswalk on Wisconsin Avenue to reach Montgomery Avenue last night. Bike crossing signals appeared to be operational at the Montgomery Lane-Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) intersection. However, the covers over some of the signals had not yet been removed. 

Montgomery Lane Bethesda Bikeway construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the status of the new protected bike lanes on Montgomery Lane between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenues in Bethesda. Some new pedestrian/bike signals have been installed, but are still bagged over at the moment. The bike lane surface itself still hasn't been paved, however. I was able to find a more-recent estimate for the completion date, which was to have been April 2023, so the project is currently about 4 months behind schedule. 

Montgomery Lane Bethesda bikeway update (Photos)

The construction of a protected bikeway along Montgomery Lane between Woodmont and Wisconsin Avenues in Bethesda is proceeding slowly. This bike lane will connect to the one on the other side of Wisconsin where Montgomery Lane becomes Montgomery Avenue alongside the Avocet Tower. It's a real mess at the moment, and is a year behind schedule. The project website hasn't been updated for some time, even though work has been ongoing since the last update.

Purple Line-related lane closures expected on Montgomery Lane in Bethesda on April 11

A significant delivery of construction materials for the Purple Line light rail project will necessitate temporary lane closures on Montgomery Lane "on or about" April 11, 2023, the Maryland Transit Administration announced today. The affected stretch of Montgomery Lane will be between East-West Highway and Pearl Street. Lane closures will take place between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM in an attempt to avoid conflicts with rush hour and school-related traffic. Watch for flagmen directing traffic during the closures.

Redevelopment of former Pines of Rome/Tommy Joe's/AOTA sites proposed in Bethesda

A long-expected redevelopment of most of a square block bounded by Wisconsin Avenue, East Lane Hampden and Montgomery Lanes in downtown Bethesda is finally moving forward. The gas station site along Wisconsin was recently proposed to be redeveloped as an assisted-living tower. Now the rest of the properties assembled over the last decade will be redeveloped as 500,000 SF of office space, residential housing with 17.6% affordable units, and retail/restaurant space with structured parking.

The properties in question are 4703-4719 Hampden Lane and 4714-4720 Montgomery Lane. Among the notable former tenants of these properties were Pines of Rome (now on Cordell Avenue), Tommy Joe's (now at the corner of Cordell and Norfolk Avenue) and the AOTA.

A required public meeting on the project, which could be up to 250' tall, will be held online on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 7:30 PM at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/453890637.

Street sweeping scheduled for Montgomery Lane in Bethesda

Signs are alerting residents around Montgomery Lane about imminent street sweeping that will occur sometime between tomorrow, April 16, and April 21, anytime from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

CAPITAL BIKESHARE STATION RETURNS TO MONTGOMERY LN. IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The sidewalk renovation is complete along Montgomery Lane next to the Newlands Building, and that has allowed the return of the temporarily-displaced Capital Bikeshare station there. Part of an ongoing project to upgrade downtown sidewalks to the Bethesda Streetscape specifications, this was one of several recent such projects around town. Several have been completed in the Woodmont Triangle area.

BETHESDA BIKESHARE STATION VANISHES! (PHOTOS)

The Capital Bikeshare station on Montgomery Lane has vanished - temporarily, according to the company. A renovation of the sidewalk there, similar to those already completed elsewhere in downtown Bethesda, apparently required removal of the station. Some have questioned the logic of this location to begin with, but that was resolved after the recent opening of a Capital Bikeshare station closer to the Bethesda Metro station entrance.

NIGHTTIME UTILITY WORK IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Last night, Verizon appeared to be doing some major work in downtown Bethesda, requiring digging and lane closures.

The right lane of northbound Wisconsin Avenue was closed between Montgomery Avenue and East-West Highway. And one lane of Montgomery Lane was closed between Tommy Joe's and the 2nd District police station.

Just something to be aware of when driving in that area, in case they haven't finished the work yet.

SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION AT WISCONSIN AND MONTGOMERY IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Heads up: the MDSHA sidewalk work continues along Wisconsin Avenue, with contractors now starting at the Montgomery Lane intersection.

Watch your step there, as I've seen many a person trip or lose their balance over the many, many months this has dragged along.