Heavy Volumes of Traffic Expected Downtown This Weekend for Multiple Events; Crews Working to Open Lanes on Pratt and Howard Streets by Midday Friday

Press Releases

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Press Release

Contact:  German Vigil
               Kathy Dominick
               (410) 361-9296

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 25, 2019

Heavy Volumes of Traffic Expected Downtown This Weekend for Multiple Events; Crews Working to Open Lanes on Pratt and Howard Streets by Midday Friday 

Motorists traveling in the downtown area should still

plan additional travel time

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation would like to advise motorists that heavy traffic volumes are expected in downtown Baltimore this weekend, Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27, 2019.  City crews and contractors are now working to open travel lanes along Pratt and Howard Streets in preparation for multiple events being held in the downtown area.

This weekend, several large events will be held downtown, including:

  • Billy Joel concert at Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Friday night at 8:00 p.m.
  • Ravens’ Open Practice at M&T Bank Stadium – Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m.
  • Kem Concert at MECU Pavilion – Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
  • WBA Boxing Match at Royal Farms Arena – Saturday evening at 9:00 p.m.

Road closures due to the underground collapse in the vicinity of Howard and Pratt Streets will also affect traffic conditions in the downtown area.  Motorists traveling downtown are encouraged to plan ahead by allowing additional commute time.  Heavy traffic volumes are expected in the afternoon and early evening hours Friday and Saturday between approximately 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. as citizens travel downtown for various events.

In order to improve traffic conditions in the downtown area for the many events this weekend, crews are now working to reopen several lanes along Pratt and Howard Streets.  Starting at noon on Friday, July 26, 2019, two lanes of Pratt Street will reopen at Howard Street.  Motorists will then be able to utilize the full stretch of Pratt Street in the downtown area, although it will be limited to two lanes of through traffic at Howard Street.  In addition, two lanes of northbound Howard Street will also be opened at this time.   Motorists coming into Baltimore from northbound I-395 will be able to use both Conway Street and northbound Howard Street into the downtown area. 

Numerous City agencies – including the Departments of Public Works, Transportation, Fire, Police and the Office of Emergency Management – along with contractors and private companies are still working to repair the underground collapse.  In order to facilitate construction work, Howard Street will again be fully closed to traffic between Lombard and Conway Streets starting at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, July 28, 2019.  The two lanes of Pratt Street will remain open, but citizens should continue to expect congestion in the southwest portion of the central business district south of Fayette Street and west of Charles Street. 

In addition to the Howard Street closure, MDOT MTA’s Light RailLink Service remains temporarily suspended between the North Avenue and Camden Yards stations.  A shuttle bus bridge has been established between these stations to accommodate light rail passengers.  Signage has been placed at these stops and Transit Ambassadors are available on location to assist passengers. 

Light RailLink Service from the south to Camden Yards is running as scheduled, and is a great transportation option for citizens coming into Baltimore from the south.  Despite the partial Light RailLink shutdown, trains are operating as far north as the Camden Station, which is a short walk to Oriole Park, M&T Bank Stadium and the Royal Farms Arena.

For additional information on Baltimore City road closures, visit transportation.baltimorecity.gov.  For information on Light Rail and mass transit options, visit mta.maryland.gov.

###