A portion of the Capital Crescent Trail just south of Bethesda Avenue closed Friday for construction-related activities that are expected to last about two weeks.
The Flats apartment project—the 162-unit building almost complete on the former Lot 31 site—includes widening the off-road portion of the popular trail just before its intersection with Bethesda Avenue.
Those on the trail traveling toward Bethesda Avenue will have to turn right onto a newly built brick walkway behind The Flats building. That walkway will lead to Woodmont Avenue.
Trail users can then cross Woodmont Avenue at a marked crosswalk, turn left and proceed to the trail tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue.
Those coming from the tunnel and hoping to connect to the trail south of Bethesda Avenue must take the opposite route.
The trail is closed off by a temporary fence at its Bethesda Avenue crosswalk. The pathway behind The Flats building is about 40 feet to the south.
This new pathway behind The Flats apartment building will serve as the official detour for the Capital Crescent Trail over the next two weeks. Credit: Aaron Kraut
Crews have also painted new crosswalks around the Bethesda and Woodmont Avenue intersection.
Jane Mahaffie, who’s helping to manage the project for developer StonebridgeCarras, said the detour should be in effect for about two weeks before the trail is reopened.
StonebridgeCarras and Montgomery County partnered to bring the development (which also includes a condominium building) to the site and to build a new county-operated parking garage under it.
The parking garage will remain open during the trail closure.
Construction crews have placed signs like this one on Bethesda Avenue and Woodmont Avenue to guide Capital Crescent Trail users. Credit: Aaron Kraut
