Vandal damages Purple Line construction site in downtown Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to the Purple Line construction site at Wisconsin Avenue and Elm Street Monday morning, April 6, 2026, after workers discovered a vandal had carried out an attack at the site. Police say the suspect poured a container of oil into a shaft at the site, causing unspecified damage. Detectives believe the incident took place sometime between 12:00 PM on Sunday, and 4:00 AM on Monday. They have not released a description of the suspect.

Bethesda Purple Line station construction update (Photos)

The Purple Line project is many years behind schedule, but the downtown Bethesda station for the future light rail line to New Carrollton is beginning to round into shape. Looking into the tunnel opening from Bethesda Row, one can see the passenger platform above the track beds. Also visible are the stairs and escalator access to the future station. Ventilation equipment has been installed, according to the project team.

According to Ray Biggs, II, Purple Line Senior Project Director for the Maryland Transit Administration, the project is now more than 74% complete. 35% of track installation is finished. Several miles of sidewalks have been installed. And 20 of 21 future stations are under construction, with 12 station canopies installed.

Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line construction entrance gate was "destroyed"

The security gate controlling access to the Purple Line light rail construction site at Chevy Chase Lake was "destroyed" by a truck delivering sod to the adjacent Columbia Country Club, according to Purple Line contractors. Concerns have been raised about the missing gate, which has left the light rail infrastructure and construction equipment vulnerable to intruders for several weeks. A new gate is being manufactured, the Purple Line team reports. In the meantime, they feel that the round-the-clock surveillance camera aimed at the entranceway will provide sufficient security.

Purple Line construction access gate has been left open for weeks in Chevy Chase

The access gate to the Purple Line construction site at Chevy Chase Lake has been left open for several weeks, observers report. You can see the missing gate on the ground, behind the orange cones and netting, next to the entrance in the photograph above. This is a major access point to the entire light rail project, which runs from downtown Bethesda to New Carrollton, and a primary access for the section between Bethesda and downtown Silver Spring. 

Trespassers, urbex explorers, equipment thieves, saboteurs, or anyone else could walk right into the Purple Line construction area at this point on Landmark Court, which comes off of Connecticut Avenue by the bridge and Crescent at Chevy Chase apartments. It's a surprising security lapse in the post-9/11 era, given that the light rail line's infrastructure could potentially be accessed and tampered with.

Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line station taking shape (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress at the future Purple Line station at Chevy Chase Lake on Connecticut Avenue. You can see the distinctive design of the Capital Crescent Trail bridge over Connecticut, which was moved into place with heavy equipment after being largely constructed off-site. On the east side of Connecticut, you can now see the shelter canopy has been erected. A route signage pole is visible to the left of the canopy, and the tall post you see appears to be a support for the overhead catenary that will power the light rail trains.

Rock Creek Trail closure ahead in Chevy Chase

A section of the Rock Creek Trail around the Purple Line light rail bridge will temporarily close on or about February 14, 2024. The closure is scheduled to last for about four weeks, and a detour will be in place (see map above). This is necessary to rehabilitate Rock Creek and the trail itself from alterations and damage caused by the construction. Work will take place in shifts from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM, as necessary. Crews are working against time, as environmental restrictions will take effect once spring arrives.

Purple Line substation to be installed in East Bethesda December 13

The installation of a traction power substation for the future Purple Line light rail system will require lane closures on Montgomery Avenue in east downtown Bethesda on December 13, 2023. Watch for flagging operations that day on Montgomery Avenue between Pearl Street and East-West Highway. The lane closures are anticipated to occur between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. This date could change due to inclement weather.

Bethesda Purple Line construction update (Photos)

The Purple Line light rail isn't due to begin operation until spring 2027 or summer 2027, depending upon who you are talking to. So Bethesda is in for another four years of this disruptive construction, and no use of a sizeable segment of the Capital Crescent Trail. Here's a look at the current state of the construction in the area of Montgomery Avenue, and from the East-West Highway bridge over the future rail line. The focus of work is the construction of walls, and the installation of utilities. Blasting and excavation for future elevator access to the south end of the Bethesda Metro station continue at Elm Street and Wisconsin Avenue.

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.

Elm Street gantry crane construction update (Photos)

Assembly of a gantry crane for the construction of the new south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station continues on Elm Street. In addition to the framelike structure, you can now see part of the actual crane machinery has been installed. The Metro station platform is 120' below street level, and space is constrained between the 7200 Wisconsin property and the Hampden House construction site across Elm Street. I believe this is the first time this type of crane has been utilized in Bethesda.

Elm Street structure mystery solved

The mysterious frame structure that is rising above Elm Street in downtown Bethesda is no longer a mystery. As two readers commented on yesterday's article, the structure is indeed being built for a gantry crane, which will be used for construction of the new south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station. This will eliminate the need for a tower crane, according to this slide from a recent Purple Line presentation. The slide also notes that it will reduce the amount of disturbance by dump truck traffic, although it does not explain how, as the same number of trucks would theoretically need to come and go from the site one way or another.

Mystery structure rising on Elm Street in Bethesda (Photos)

A mysterious framework of a structure is rising on Elm Street near Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. It is in the street, not on the Hampden House construction site. Work is resuming on the future south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station, which will be located alongside Elm Street, as well as an elevator shaft for that entrance and for the Purple Line. However, no public announcement was made about this structure that has appeared, and I've never seen anything like this erected above-grade during construction of other underground Metro facilities in the past. The structure must be temporary, as Elm Street will reopen once the Purple Line station is completed.