Baltimore Water Main Break | Road Closures Continue, Causing Headaches For Orioles Fans

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Road closures downtown will continue into next week as crews work to repair a large water main break and sinkhole by Pratt and Howard streets.

The road closures will affect traffic downtown throughout the weekend and motorists should expect delays. That means Baltimoreans should expect heavy traffic in the area when the Orioles play against the Tampa Bay Rays at home this weekend.

Game attendees should be mindful of the road closures and plan accordingly.

"We went online just to see how long it would take. They told us it would take 2 hours to drive and normally it takes maybe 30, 40 minutes," said Orioles fan Dana Suttenechols from Randallstown.

Congestion should be expected in the southwest portion of downtown -- south of Fayette Street and west of Charles Street.

"This was kind of difficult to find a parking place," Kansas City resident Kristen Miller said. "Then we wanted to find dinner."

Use Mulberry or Baltimore Streets instead. if you're traveling northbound on I-295 (Russell Street) follow Paca Street to Mulberry or Baltimore Street. You can also take Conway Street to Charles or Light streets.

Following the game, officials will open an extra lane to accommodate people leaving the stadium.

O's Fans Advised To Plan For Road Closures Ahead Of Weekend Series With Rays

The following roads are closed to all vehicular traffic:

Pratt Street is closed from Paca to Sharp Streets - Traffic on inbound Russell Street cannot turn onto Pratt Street.  Motorists must continue north to Baltimore Street or other roadways.  Traffic on eastbound Pratt Street will be detoured left onto Paca Street.

Northbound I-395 is closed at Conway Street - Traffic inbound on I-395 cannot proceed north onto Howard Street.  Motorists must turn right onto Conway Street to either Charles or Light Streets.

Southbound Howard Street is closed from Lombard to Conway Street - Traffic destined for southbound I-395 cannot use Lombard to Howard Street, but can take Martin Luther King Blvd., or Lombard to Light or Lombard to Sharp Streets to Conway to I-395.  Note: Camden Street from Eutaw to Howard is being opened today. Motorist can now proceed south on Eutaw, turn left onto Camden Street and Right onto Howard Street to I-395.

Light RailLink is temporarily closed between North Avenue and Camden Yards as well.

Light Rail Service Suspended Downtown Indefinitely As Crews Repair Sinkhole, MDOT Officials Say

Light RailLink Service from the south to Camden Yards is running as scheduled.  The Department of Transportation in collaboration with several of the dockless vehicle companies will be providing additional scooters to the Camden Yards Station and most of their shuttle bus bridge stops.

Still, the rail service disruption is unsettling for residents like Ayonna Thomas, who rely on it to get to work.

"People have been panicking about getting to work. I have to leave hours beforehand just to get to work on time. It's a disaster," Thomas said.

Workers are using 3D mapping devices to lay out all the drainage systems underground.

Crews are dealing with a second water main break and a leak near Howard and Baltimore Streets and have yet to replace a damaged storm drain. All of that work will continue through the weekend.

Officials will have internal briefings on the status of the repairs at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

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.

In:
• Baltimore
• Sinkhole
• Road Closures
• Baltimore City