BALTIMORE, MD — Several road closures are in effect this week in downtown and midtown Baltimore. The sinkhole that formed in the July 8 floods is still being repaired off Pratt at Howard streets, which may cause traffic snarls as fans come to watch the Orioles play at Camden Yards; and Artscape will be in town Friday, July 19, to Sunday, July 21, prompting a series of road closures in midtown.

After thunderstorms rolled through the region Wednesday night, the Baltimore Department of Public Works reported that stormwater breached the CSX tunnel, and officials were assessing impacts to the hole on Howard Street.

Drivers should give themselves extra time to get to their destinations in downtown Baltimore for the next several days. Transportation Enforcement Officers will be helping with traffic flow around Camden Yards, the Baltimore City Department of Transportation advised.

Here's a guide to the various road closures in Charm City this week.

Sinkhole Repair Plus O's Games = Traffic

Traffic was expected to be so heavy Wednesday, July 17, that the Baltimore Department of Transportation issued a traffic advisorydirecting people to allocate extra time. Downtown events coupled with road closures from the underground collapse at Howard and Pratt streets will cause delays, officials said.

Traffic was expected to peak from 2 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17, as baseball fans headed downtown for the Orioles home game at Camden Yards for the Battle of the Beltways, with the O's taking on the Nationals at 7:05 p.m. Traffic may also be heavy as the Orioles play the Boston Red Sox in Baltimore at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.

Commuters are strongly encouraged to use public transportation like MTA buses, light trail, the Metro Subway System or the Charm City Circulator Wednesday if they are going downtown. 

Drivers to the baseball game will encounter traffic delays and detours due to the road collapse that occurred during the July 8 flood.

Pratt Street is closed from Paca to Sharp streets. Traffic on inbound Russell Street can't turn onto Pratt and must continue north to Baltimore Street or another road. Traffic on eastbound Pratt Street will be detoured left onto Paca Street.

I-395 north is closed at Conway Street, and inbound traffic cannot proceed north onto Howard Street. Turn right onto Conway to Charles or Light streets.

Southbound Howard Street is closed from Lombard to Conway Street. Drivers on I-395 south can take MLK or Lombard to Light or Sharp to Conway to I-95.

Traffic destined for southbound I-395 cannot use Lombard to Howard Street, but can take MLK or Lombard to Light or Lombard to Sharp streets to Conway to I-395.

Drivers should avoid west Pratt Street to enter the downtown area; use Mulberry or Baltimore street instead.

Those on I-295 (Russell Street) should follow Paca Street to Mulberry (US 40) or Baltimore Street.

The light rail has been temporarily suspended between the North Avenue and Camden Yards stations due to safety concerns. A shuttle bus bridge will be running between these stations to accommodate light rail passengers during this time. Signage has been placed at these stops, and Transit Ambassadors will be available to assist passengers. Light RailLink Service from the south to Camden Yards is running as scheduled.

President Street Lane Closure

Temporary lane closures are in effect on southbound President Streetbetween Fayette and Pratt streets. Concrete repair work is underway and will be ongoing until 3 p.m. on Friday, July 19.

Drivers should allow for extra travel time in this area, where a temporary right lane closure is in effect, and take alternate routes if possible.

Artscape Road Closures, Detours

Mount Royal Avenue will come to life for Artscape on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 19-21.

These streets will be closed from 7 a.m. Monday, July 15, to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 23:

• Cathedral Street between Mount Royal Avenue and Preston Street: Local traffic to the Cathedral Street Garage will be maintained. A temporary two-way traffic pattern will be implemented along this portion of Cathedral Street for garage access.
• Mt. Royal Avenue between Dolphin and St. Paul Streets. The exit ramp from the Jones Falls Expressway to Mount Royal Avenue will also be closed. Local traffic along Mt. Royal Avenue from North Avenue to Dolphin Street will be maintained.
• Oliver Street between Mt. Royal and Maryland Avenues. Local traffic to the Fitzgerald Garage will be maintained.
• Preston Street between Cathedral and North Howard Streets
• Preston Street between Maryland Avenue and Cathedral Street. (Local traffic to the Symphony Center Garage will be maintained.)

Closures from 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 23:

• Charles Street between Preston Street and North Avenue. The I-83 ENTRANCE RAMP WILL ALSO CLOSE AT THIS TIME; but a special traffic chute will be set up along Penn Drive so drivers can take the I-83 ramp (see below). Local access will be maintained along Charles Street between Biddle and Preston Streets.
• Lafayette Avenue between Maryland Avenue and St. Paul Street (Local access to the gas station and Schuler School will be maintained).
• Lanvale Street between Maryland Avenue and Lovegrove Street (access to the Amtrak parking lot will be maintained).

Special Penn Drive Traffic Chute:
Traffic cones during non-festival hours will allow vehicles from Penn Drive to gain access to the I-83 ramp. Right turns onto Charles Street will still be restricted during these times.

Here's when the special Penn Drive traffic chute will be open:

• Wednesday, July 17 from 12:00 a.m. to Friday, July 19 at 8:00 a.m.
• Saturday, July 20 from 12:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Sunday, July 21 from 12:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Monday, July 22 from 12:00 a.m. to Tuesday, July 23 at 4:00 p.m.

These streets will be closed at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 19, through 6 a.m. on Monday, July 22:

• Maryland Avenue between Preston Street and North Avenue, including the bike lane (Local traffic to the Fitzgerald Garage will be maintained. A temporary two-way traffic pattern will be implemented along Maryland Avenue from Oliver Street to North Avenue for garage access)
• Falls Road between Lafayette and Maryland Avenues (A temporary two-way traffic pattern will be implemented along the 100 block of W. Lafayette Avenue to allow access to city yards and local businesses)
• North Avenue curb lane between Charles and St. Paul Streets
• Park Avenue/Biddle Street between Howard and Cathedral Streets (behind the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. A temporary two-way traffic pattern will be implemented along Park Avenue for access to the Symphony Center Garage)

Special traffic pattern along Maryland Avenue for Sunday morning church services:
Maryland Avenue will be converted to a two-way traffic pattern from Preston Street to Mt. Royal Avenue for morning church services, from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, July 21. Congregation members trying to access the church should follow St. Paul Street to Preston Street, then turn the opposite way onto Maryland Avenue to the parking lot.