Update: The repairs have been completed and Wisconsin Ave. has reopened as of 6am Wednesday morning.
WSSC crews have been working to repair a significant water main break that occurred on Monday along Wisconsin Avenue (MD-355) near East West Highway (MD-410) in Bethesda. The incident caused substantial damage to the southbound lanes of Wisconsin Avenue, leading to a multi-day closure for emergency repairs.
On Tuesday morning, WSSC shared a photo of a damaged 8-inch pipe section that had been removed by crews. They assured the public that a new pipe was being installed and that they were working to restore water service as quickly and safely as possible. The community was thanked for their patience during the essential repairs.
By Tuesday night, WSSC provided another update, noting good progress with milling and preparation work ahead of the final paving. The southbound lanes of Wisconsin Avenue, between Old Georgetown Road and Montgomery Avenue, remained closed as crews continued their work.
At approximately 9:45 PM on Tuesday, fresh asphalt was being laid where the water main break had damaged the southbound lanes, according to our public safety reporter Cordell Pugh. The closure of the southbound lanes was expected to continue for most of the night as the paving work was completed.
Crews have begun laying fresh asphalt where Monday’s water main break significantly damaged the Southbound Lanes of Wisconsin Avenue between Old Georgetown Road and Montgomery Avenue in Downtown Bethesda. The Southbound Lanes are expected to remain closed for most of the night. https://t.co/OV0nICoCO5 pic.twitter.com/dGNeuPGDeS
— Cordell (@CordellTraffic) August 6, 2025