Artscape 2023: Baltimore road closures and parking restrictions to know this week
BALTIMORE -- Road closures and parking restrictions abound in Baltimore City as its premier arts festival, Artscape, gets underway this week.
Artscape will be held in September after a three-year COVID hiatus. The festival is the nation's largest free outdoor arts festival traditionally held in July, but the new dates are September 22-24.
The Baltimore Department of Transportation urges drivers to plan ahead as road closures and restrictions begin Monday and run through the week to next Monday.
You can view an interactive map of the Artscape here.
The Charm City Circulator service will also be affected on the Purple Line. Read on to see how lane closures, parking restrictions and public transportation changes could impact you this week.
As provided by the DOT, the following road and lane closures and parking restrictions will be implemented:
Lane closures from Monday, September 18th at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, September 25th at 11:59 p.m.:
- Preston Street westbound right lane closure between Maryland Avenue and Cathedral Street
- Preston Street westbound left curb lane closure between Cathedral Street and Howard Street
- Dolphin Street eastbound left lane closure between Bolton Street and Howard Street
Road closure from Monday, September 18th at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, September 25th at 11:59 p.m.:
- Park Avenue between Howard Street and Cathedral Street
Road closures from Tuesday, September 19th at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, September 25th at 11:59 p.m.:
- Mt. Royal Avenue between St. Paul Street and McMechen Street (NOTE: All intersections along this section of Mt. Royal Avenue will be closed. No vehicular traffic will be able to access or cross Mt. Royal Avenue. McMechen Street and St. Paul Street will remain open to traffic.)
- Charles Street between Preston Street and Mt. Royal Avenue
- Dolphin Street between Mt. Royal Avenue and Howard Street (open for local traffic only and closed completely on Thursday, September 21st at 10:00 a.m.)
- I-83 Southbound Exit 4 to Mt. Royal Avenue West (Note: Exit 4 to St. Paul Street South to remain open.)
Road closures from Wednesday, September 20th at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, September 25th at 11:59 p.m.:
- Charles Street between Mt. Royal Avenue and North Avenue (North Avenue remains open)
- Charles Street between North Avenue and 21st Street (North Avenue remains open)
- 20th Street between Maryland Avenue and St. Paul Street
- Trenton Street between St. Paul Street and Maryland Avenue
- Lafayette Avenue between St. Paul Street and Maryland Avenue
- Falls Road / E. Coast Greenway between St. Paul Street and Maryland Avenue
Lane closure from Thursday, September 21st at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, September 25th at 11:59 p.m.:
- Cathedral Street southbound right curb lane closure between Preston Street and Biddle Street / Park Avenue
Road closure from Thursday, September 21st at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, September 25th at 11:59 p.m.:
- Cathedral Street between Preston Street and Mt. Royal Avenue (event staff access only)
Major roadway directional change from Thursday, September 21st at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, September 25th at 11:59 p.m.:
- Maryland Avenue between North Avenue and Oliver Street will be ONE-WAY FOR NORTHBOUND TRAVEL ONLY. This roadway, which normally carries southbound traffic will be converted to northbound only and all northbound traffic will be directed to turn right onto North Avenue.
In addition to the road closures, the following parking restrictions will be implemented for the event:
Parking restrictions from 12:00 a.m. Monday (morning), September 18, 2023 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 25, 2023.:
- Mt. Royal Avenue (south side) – St. Paul Street to McMechen Street
- Park Avenue (both sides) – Howard Street to Cathedral Street
- Preston Street (north side) – Maryland Avenue to Cathedral Street
- Dolphin Street (south side) – Bolton Street to Howard Street
- Charles Street (both sides) – Preston Street to Mt. Royal Avenue
Parking restrictions from 12:00 a.m. Tuesday (morning), September 19, 2023 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 25, 2023.:
- Mt. Royal Avenue (north side) – St. Paul Street to McMechen Street
- Charles Street (both sides) – Mt. Royal Avenue to North Avenue
- Maryland Avenue (both sides) – Mt. Royal Avenue to North Avenue
Parking restrictions from 12:00 a.m. Wednesday (morning), September 20, 2023 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 25, 2023.:
- Charles Street (both sides) – Mt. Royal Avenue to North Avenue
- Charles Street (both sides) – North Avenue to 21st Street
- 20th Street (both sides) – St. Paul Street to Maryland Avenue
- Trenton Street (both sides) – St. Paul Street to Maryland Avenue
- Lafayette Avenue (both sides) – St. Paul Street to Maryland Avenue
- Falls Road / E. Coast Greenway (both sides) – St. Paul Street to Maryland Avenue
Parking restrictions from 12:00 a.m. Thursday (morning), September 21, 2023 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 25, 2023.:
- Maryland Avenue (both sides) – Mt. Royal Avenue to North Avenue
- Dolphin Street (west side) – Mt. Royal Avenue to Howard Street
- Cathedral Street (west side) – Preston Street to Park Avenue / Biddle Street
- Cathedral Street (east side) – Chase Street to Park Avenue / Biddle Street
- North Avenue (north side) – Charles Street to Howard Street
Special Traffic Pattern along Maryland Avenue for Sunday morning church services: On Sunday, September 24th from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., Maryland Avenue will be converted to a two-way traffic pattern from Preston Street to Mt. Royal Avenue for morning church services. Congregation members trying to access the church should follow St. Paul Street to Preston Street, then turn right going the opposite way onto Maryland Avenue to the parking lot.
Charm City Circulator Service: Charm City Circulator (CCC) patrons should be aware that CCC bus operations along the Purple Route will be modified starting next week in preparation for Artscape. On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the following route modifications will be in effect through Monday, September 25, 2023 (with normal operations resuming on Tuesday, September 26th):
- The CCC's Purple Route will be detoured. The detour will begin on northbound Charles Street and will turn right/eastbound on Biddle Street, turn left/ northbound on Calvert Street, turn left/westbound on 21st Street, and turn right/northbound on Charles Street.
- Stop closures during this time include #310 Penn Station (northbound) and #311 North Avenue (northbound).
WJZ is the proud media sponsor of Artscape.
