Road closures bring commuting challenges for Silver Spring’s late-night businesses

Late-night businesses in downtown Silver Spring are struggling with street accessibility as continued Purple Line construction brings two additional temporary road closures for September and October.

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) announced the two additional temporary road closures on major streets, including a shutdown at the intersection of Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street. The second round of closures, which were originally set to begin Sept. 14, will now occur between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. from Oct. 5 through Oct. 15.

“You’re causing more traffic,” said Elodie Tagro, a bartender at Ivela Lounge who commutes from Takoma Park. “I came the other day to get my check, and I literally had to park somewhere else and walk over here.”

The first closure for this month limited access to a section of Georgia Avenue between Wayne and Thayer avenues from Aug. 26 through Sept. 9, leaving workers and local consumers struggling to navigate the already modified roadways. The closures begin in the middle of scheduled hours, making transport out of the area at closing times a challenge, several workers said.

“You have a whole bunch of other people that want their customers to have access to them, but you guys cut it off,” said Tagro regarding the construction closures.

The temporary road closures have added to a long list of other ways the construction has slowed business in the past few years, with businesses either becoming accustomed to the changes or being forced to close their doors. More recently, the issue has moved to parking, with the main road closures eliminating streetside access and rideshares.

Lidiya Lemma, a waitress at Langano Ethiopian Bar & Restaurant, said that while business has been slow for quite some time, remaining customers continue to mention how “aggravating” accessing the restaurant has become.

Lemma said customers often cannot find a spot near the business and do not want to pay for parking “because they just want to grab their food.”

The Purple Line, a construction project managed by MDOT MTA in partnership with the Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP), has been in development since 2017. The 16-mile light rail line will run through Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, connecting commuters to multiple Metrorail, MARC commuter rail and Amtrak stations in key urban hubs.

However, the construction has had significant economic impacts across the region known as the Purple Line Corridor. Bonifant Street, which sits between Wayne and Thayer avenues, in downtown Silver Spring, is documented as one of the most affected areas.

Both Montgomery County and the state of Maryland have sought solutions, with the most recent being the Purple Line Small Business Grant. Managed by MDOT MTA, the grant offers awards of up to $50,000 to qualifying small businesses located within a quarter-mile of the Purple Line light rail tracks. The program is offered in three rounds each year until 2028 and has awarded $2.6 million in grants since 2025.

However, certain businesses are deemed ineligible, including tobacco and alcohol-based businesses, according to the limitations listed by MDOT MTA on the grant application page.

Many locals and business regulars have noticed the continued changes to the roads and have still done their best to remain active in the community. Christian Olinger, a Wayne Avenue resident, said the frustration comes from the seemingly random changes to traffic and access.

“It’s just constant road changes. A road could be perfectly fine one day, and then they decide to switch up lanes that are drivable because they need to work on a different lane,” said Olinger.

Currently, the Purple Line is scheduled to open for service to commuters in winter 2027. Many are anticipating the project’s completion, with Montgomery County planners expecting significant economic growth, steering housing and other development to the future Purple Line hubs.

“I just want to get home safe. I don’t care about nothing else,” said Tagro.