Update (Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012): The blasting at Lot 31 has been halted temporarily, according to an email from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center.

"No further blasting will take place for approximately two weeks," until after Jan. 1, the email reported.

"Now Clark Construction is focusing on removing the blasted material, continuing excavation and sheeting and shoring the entire area," the email added.

Original story (Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012): Blasting began earlier this month as part of the construction occurring in downtown Bethesda at Lot 31, according to an email from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center.

The blasting is part of a project to build a major public parking center in this location (at Bethesda and Woodmont avenues). The groundbreaking took place earlier this year, Bethesda Patch reported.

"Excavation of Lot 31 in Bethesda has reached a level of dense, hard rock that requires blasting. Clark Construction began blasting December 5, 2012, and will be blasting Monday through Friday for the next two to three months," the services center's email reported.

The blasts are loud enough for individuals immediately adjacent to the site to hear, the email added:

Most days there will be two blasts between 9 am and 3 pm, with the majority between 10 am-2 pm. A horn is sounded approximately 15 minutes and 5 minutes before each blast, as well as one immediately afterward, primarily to alert on-site workers. 

Bethesda Patch reported earlier this year that "[the] project is a public-private partnership between the county and developers StonebridgeCarras and PN Hoffman, who are also planning residential and retail projects on either side of Woodmont, with 250 units and ground-floor retail."

Read more about the project on Bethesda Patch.