Traffic signals installed on Sangamore Rd. at Walhonding Rd. in Bethesda

Sangamore Road looking toward
intersection with Walhonding Road

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has installed traffic signals at the currently-unsignalized intersection of Sangamore Road and Walhonding Road in Bethesda. This project has been on MCDOT's list of Vision Zero initiatives, and was budgeted for the fiscal year FY-2022. There are now two poles with signal arms in place; one of the arms is currently swung over behind the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department, and is out of view in this photo. You can see the other one is in position already, with the signals themselves covered.

This intersection is only a short block from the Sangamore-Massachusetts Avenue intersection that has signals. However, the intersection is currently intimidating for pedestrians to cross, and children walking from Sumner and Glen Echo Heights to Glen-Mar Park are likely to use this route. Views of oncoming cross-street traffic are obstructed in all four directions at this crossing, as you can see in the above photo. Crosswalks still have to be painted.

If you've driven on Sangamore for any length of time, you've probably had to hit your brakes for someone blowing through the stop signs on Walhonding here more than once. You're also likely to now approach this intersection with hyper caution as a result. It's unclear if there will be any issue with traffic backing up on that short block of Sangamore between the two signals.

Collision has Sangamore Rd. down to one lane at Walhonding Rd. in Bethesda

A collision has seriously damaged two vehicles, and reduced Sangamore Road to a single lane near Walhonding Road in Bethesda. Two vehicles collided at that intersection around 9:00 AM. A Mercedes Benz suffered major front-end damage, and a Toyota Highlander needs to be towed away with a broken axle, according to a police officer at the scene. Avoid the area by taking Fort Sumner Drive, or Goldsboro Road to MacArthur Boulevard, among many other options.

Bethesda underage drinking party draws 125, sends 1 to hospital

An underage drinking party involving students from American University drew a police response early Friday morning in Bethesda. Once on the scene around 1:04 AM in the 5900 block of Walhonding Road, one officer radioed for additional units, citing that there were "approximately 125 people at this party."

One attendee ended up at Sibley Hospital for what was described in scanner reports as a "stabbing." But Montgomery County Police 2nd District Commander Captain David Falcinelli said yesterday the victim's injuries were only superficial, and resulted from a dispute with another student.

Montgomery County Police have made stopping underage drinking parties a priority. Efforts have been stepped up further after recent drinking-and-driving-related deaths of students who had attended such parties. A legislative effort is also underway in Annapolis to crack down on underage drinking.

Falcinelli said he has already contacted American University officials regarding yesterday morning's incident.

Car stolen in Pike District, theft on Walhonding Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on December 18, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 4700 block Montgomery Lane.

Theft. 6300 block Walhonding Road.

Stolen car. 5800 block Nicholson Lane (Pike District).

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Robbery at Suburban Hospital, 2 stolen cars + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on November 15, according to crime data:

Drug arrest. Norfolk Avenue at Wisconsin Avenue.

Weapon arrest. 4800 block Cordell Avenue.

Stolen car. 4400 block East-West Highway at 3:45 PM.

Assault. 4100 block Aspen Street at 1:00 AM.

Robbery. Suburban Hospital.

Assault. 5800 block Nicholson Lane at 11:49 PM (Pike District).

Drug arrest. 7100 block Westlake Terrace.

Stolen car. 7400 block Westlake Terrace.

Drug arrest. 6200 block Walhonding Road at 12:31 AM.

ASSAULT ON EAST-WEST HWY., THEFTS IN MASS. AVE. CORRIDOR + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on February 12, according to crime data:

Assault. 4300 block East-West Highway at 10:08 AM.

Theft. 8600 block Old Georgetown Road.

Theft from vehicle. 6500 block Broxburn Drive at 10:46 AM (Flint Hill).

Theft from vehicle. 6200 block Walhonding Road at 2:48 PM (Glen Echo Heights).

Theft. 5200 block Wissioming Road at 7:13 AM (Glen Echo Heights).

Theft. 5100 block Baltimore Avenue at 2:55 PM (Westgate).

Theft. 10400 block Grosvenor Place at 10:01 AM.

Assault. Randolph Road and Parkland Drive (Pike District).

ASSAULT & DRUG ARREST ON MASSACHUSETTS AVE., 2 BURGLARIES ON SINGLETON DR. - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

An unusual day on normally-quiet Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda witnessed an assault, and a drug arrest, on Wednesday. On the same day, just off of Old Georgetown Road, two burglaries were reported on Singleton Drive.

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on August 13, according to crime data:

Theft from vehicle. Bethesda Metro Center.

Vehicle burglary. 4300 block Rosedale Avenue.

Theft. Whole Foods Friendship Heights.

Theft. 100 block Summerfield Road.

Assault. 5500 block Massachusetts Avenue.

Theft. Bloomingdales (Friendship Heights).

Theft. 7600 block Holiday Terrace.

Vehicle burglary. 8900 block Clifford Avenue (North Chevy Chase).

Drug arrest. 5400 block Massachusetts Avenue.

Burglary. 9600 block Singleton Drive.

Burglary. 9800 block Singleton Drive.

Theft. 6200 block Walhonding Road.

Theft. Gold's Gym, 5520 Randolph Road.

BETHESDA BURGLARS BUSTING IN - BETHESDA CRIME REPORT

One or more burglars are currently working neighborhoods in west Bethesda.  Three recent burglaries have been reported in the River Road corridor.

Here is a list of break-ins:

November 11:

4600 block of River Road.

November 14:

6400 block of Walhonding Road.

November 15

:

7200 block of Nevis Road.