City of Baltimore Celebrates the Grand Opening of the Central Avenue Bridge in Harbor Point

Press Release

Contact: Kathy Dominick
              (410) 361-9296

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 02, 2018

City of Baltimore Celebrates the Grand Opening of the Central Avenue Bridge in Harbor Point

Baltimore, MD (June 02, 2018) – Today, Mayor Catherine Pugh was joined by City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young, Department of Transportation Director Michelle Pourciau, and project partners including Beatty Development, the Harbor East Management Group, Constellation, the Baltimore Development Corporation and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore to celebrate the grand opening of the Central Avenue Bridge at Harbor Point. 

“The construction of the new Central Avenue Bridge is crucial to the development and success of Harbor Point,” said Mayor Pugh.  “The opening of this bridge today brings us one step closer to completing Baltimore’s largest downtown waterfront development site that provides economic growth and job opportunities for the citizens of Baltimore.”

The new Central Avenue Bridge was constructed as part of the Central Avenue Streetscape and Bridge Project.  The rehabilitation of Central Avenue began back in the summer of 2012 and included storm drain reconstruction, roadway construction and streetscape work from Madison to Baltimore Streets. This first phase of construction was completed in the summer of 2015.

Phase II of the project continued streetscape improvements along Central Avenue from Baltimore to Lancaster Streets. Work also included construction of the new Harbor Point Connector Bridge which extends Central Avenue to Harbor Point, a 27-acre mixed-use development located on the waterfront near Harbor East. Construction of the bridge began in early 2017, and was officially opened to traffic today.

“The Central Avenue Bridge and streetscape improvements bring many benefits to this developing neighborhood and commercial district by improving safety, roadway capacity, accessibility, mobility and aesthetic appeal,” said Transportation Director Michelle Pourciau.  “We are proud to be providing this new gateway that accommodates all transportation modes here in Harbor Point.”

The Central Avenue streetscape and bridge project is vital for the development of Harbor Point.  Prior to the opening of the new Central Avenue Bridge, the only way to reach the site was via South Caroline Street.  The bridge provides a much-needed connection to Harbor Point, and streetscape improvements along Central Avenue will also help accommodate increased traffic expected from the residential and commercial growth of this area.

Phase II of the Central Avenue Streetscape and Bridge project was awarded at $46 million.  Although the Central Avenue Bridge is now open to traffic, additional work along the bridge and in the vicinity will still occur.  The remainder of the project is expected to be complete by the spring of 2019.

 

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