HILLANDALE ROAD NOW ENTIRELY CLOSED NEAR LITTLE FALLS PARKWAY IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The portion of Hillandale Road between Little Falls Parkway and Willett Parkway is now closed indefinitely in both directions. A recent partial collapse of a culvert pipe below the road had caused the inbound lane to close. Now that section of the road is entirely closed, and drivers are being asked to use Arlington Road to detour around it. A statement from Montgomery County Government says that the road section will remain closed "for an undetermined amount of time." 

NORFOLK AVENUE ROAD CLOSURE TODAY FOR CHILDREN OF PERSIA WALK/FALL FESTIVAL

A large portion of Norfolk Avenue will be closed from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM today, as non-profit group Children of Persia hosts its 10th Annual Walk for Children and Fall Festival. The event will be based near the intersection of Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues, but the Norfolk closure will extend west of that spot. Plan to park elsewhere if you are headed towards businesses in that area.

Of course, you could make the best of the inconvenience and attend the event, which includes Persian food, arts and crafts, a bake sale, raffle, children's activities and musical performances. The event is free and open to the public.

Children of Persia's mission is to help needy Iranian children and their families, of any religious, political, or ethnic background. 

SURPRISE ROAD CLOSURE ON BETHESDA AVENUE (PHOTOS)

Bethesda Avenue was closed tonight at Woodmont Avenue by Barnes and Noble for road/utility work. To my knowledge, there was no advance notice given of this closure. The block of Bethesda Avenue between Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues was fully open tonight, but vehicles entering Bethesda Avenue at Arlington Road had to turn around before reaching Woodmont.

UPDATE: POLICE CLOSE DOWN PART OF WOODMONT AVE. IN BETHESDA, BOMB SQUAD ON SCENE (VIDEO+PHOTOS)

UPDATE: 11:40 PM

Woodmont Avenue has reopened in Bethesda between Cordell and St. Elmo Avenues, after being shut down by police for several hours in an apparent bomb squad investigation. The area of interest appeared to be the adjacent Public Parking Lot 43 on Woodmont. Specific details of what police were looking for, and why, have not yet been released to the public. See below for video of the bomb squad robot in the 11:13 PM update.

UPDATE: 11:13 PM

Police are wrapping up the scene of an apparent bomb squad investigation, and reopening Woodmont Avenue. There have still been no specific details released to the public about this incident.

Here is a brief video of the bomb squad robot in action:

Montgomery County bomb
squad robot exits truck in
front of Bruce Variety
on Woodmont Avenue in
downtown Bethesda

UPDATE: 9:38 PM

Here are a couple of photos of the bomb squad robot - coming out of the truck, and getting some human assistance:

UPDATE: 9:25 PM

A bomb squad robot has been sent into the parking lot. That is the same lot where a witness said he was told by police he could not enter to retrieve his car. Still no public statement from police on what this is all about.


UPDATE: 9:15 PM

There is still no official word from Montgomery County Police regarding the closure of Woodmont Avenue between Cordell and St. Elmo Avenues in Bethesda this evening. However, I have identified a Montgomery County bomb squad vehicle on-scene. Parking Lot 43 is closed, and a man said police told him he was not allowed to enter the lot to retrieve his car, due to an "incident."

The Bethesda Circulator is being rerouted around the scene.

Original story:

Montgomery County Police have shut down Woodmont Avenue in the vicinity of Public Parking Lot 43, at 8009 Woodmont Avenue. Officers declined to comment on the reason, and would provide no details or information. Fire equipment is on-scene, as well.