Before you hit the road this weekend, here’s a heads-up on temporary closures and traffic tweaks around the city to make way for the Flower Mart in Mount Vernon, the Kinetic Sculpture Race near the Inner Harbor, the Baltimore Farmer’s Market under the Jones Falls Expressway, and more.
The Flower Mart is blooming in Mount Vernon today, Friday, May 3, and tomorrow, Saturday, May 4. Expect some road closures and parking restrictions. Charles Street, Madison Street, and some surrounding streets will be affected. See map for details, and the Baltimore City Department of Transportation recommends downloading the Waze app for live detour updates.
As for the Kinetic Sculpture Race, racers will roll through the Inner Harbor and neighborhoods starting from the American Visionary Art Museum on Covington Street. Covington Street will be shut down between Key Highway and Cross Street, so be ready for detours and parking restrictions.
If you’re thinking of hitting up other events this weekend, like the special happenings on Curley Street, Madison Street, Charles Street, Eutaw Place, Preston Street, or Ponca Street, be prepared for some road closures and diversions.
Sunday brings us the Baltimore Farmers’ Market under the Jones Falls Expressway. That means Saratoga Street, Holliday Street, Pleasant Street, and Hillen Street will see some closures and lane restrictions.
For the city’s official list of road closings, see below or download the Waze app.
Flower Mart road closures:
The following road closures will be in effect from 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 2nd until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024:
- Charles Street from Centre to Madison Streets
- Eastbound Mt. Vernon Place from St. Paul to Cathedral to Streets
- Westbound Mount Vernon Place from Cathedral to St. Paul Street
- North and south sides of Madison Street closed from Lovegrove to Morton Streets (lane closures)
Additional road closures will be in effect from 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 3rd until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024:
- Madison Street from St. Paul to Cathedral Streets
- Charles Street from Madison to Read Streets
The following parking restrictions will be in effect from 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 2nd until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024:
- North and south sides of Mount Vernon Place from St. Paul to Cathedral Streets
- Charles Street from Centre to Madison Streets
- West side of N. Charles Street from Hamilton to Centre Streets
The following parking restrictions will be in effect from 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 2nd until 12:00 p.m. on Monday, May 6, 2024:
- North and south sides of Madison Street from Lovegrove to Charles Streets
Additional parking restrictions will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. on Friday, May 3rd until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024:
- North and south sides of Madison Street from St. Paul to Lovegrove Streets
- North and south sides of Madison Street from Charles to Cathedral Streets
- Charles Street from Madison to Read Streets
Kinetic Sculpture race road closures and race route:
The race will begin and end at the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) on Covington Street and kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Participants will run the 15-mile course through the Inner Harbor and surrounding neighborhoods at the approximate times listed below:
- 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Safety check and brake test at AVAM
- 9:30 – 10:00 Opening Ceremonies & start from AVAM onto Key Highway
- 10:03 – 10:20 Climb Battery Avenue into Federal Hill Park
- 10:15 – 11:30 Race down Riverside, Fort, Lawrence, Key Highway, around the Inner Harbor, down President Street, around Katyn Circle to Aliceanna Street & Boston Street
- 11:15 – 1:00 p.m. Water entry at Canton Waterfront Park
- 1:00 – 1:30 Race up Kenwood Avenue, right on Eastern, left on Linwood and into Patterson Park
- 1:15 – 3:15 Patterson Park Obstacle Course
- 3:30 – 4:45 Race down Lombard, Central, Eastern, Pier 5, Pratt, Light, Key Highway, Lawrence, Fort, Jackson, Clement and Covington to the finish line at AVAM (first racers may finish as early as 3:30)
- 4:00 – 6:00 Post-race recovery (dinner for racers & volunteers)
- 6:00 – 7:00 Awards Ceremony at AVAM
Race Route – Participants will leave the AVAM/Covington Street and will turn left onto Key Highway, left onto Battery Avenue, and left on Warren Avenue to enter Federal Hill Park, loop around the park, then exit the park making a right onto Warren Avenue. The race proceeds left on Riverside Avenue, left on Fort Avenue, left on Lawrence Street, then left onto Key Highway. Participants will then turn right onto Light Street, turn into bike lane at Science Center, then into trolley lane to continue on Light Street, and right into the Pratt Street trolley lane. The course continues along Pratt Street, right on President Street, around the Katyn Memorial, right on Aliceanna Street, and right onto Boston Street. Participants will enter Canton Waterfront Park at East Avenue for a water launch, then exit the park at East Avenue, turn left on Boston Street, right on Kenwood Avenue, right on Eastern Avenue, then left on Linwood Avenue to enter Patterson Park near the Dog Park. After negotiating the three obstacle courses in the park, racers will exit the park onto Lombard Street, turn left on Central Avenue, and right on Eastern Avenue, crossing President Street. The race continues left into bike lane on Pratt Street, left on Light Street, left on Key Highway, right on Lawrence Street, right on Fort Avenue, right on Jackson Street, left on Clement Street and right onto Covington Street to finish at the AVAM.
In preparation for the event, Covington Street will be closed to through traffic between Key Highway and Cross Street beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 2nd through 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024, with parking restrictions in effect. In addition, during the race on Saturday, May 4th, one lane of travel will be coned off for participants along the race route wherever possible.
The following parking restriction will be implemented from 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 2nd until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024:
- Covington Street from Key Highway to Cross Street
The following parking restrictions will be implemented on Saturday, May 4, 2024, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.:
- South side of Key Highway from Battery Avenue to Covington Street
- South side of Key Highway from Williams Street to Light Street
- South side of Boston Street from Aliceanna Street to East Avenue
Motorists traveling in these areas should be advised that temporary traffic stops will be implemented during the event for the safety of participants. Transportation Enforcement Officers along with the Baltimore City Police will be stationed along the race route to help facilitate the movement of traffic. Drivers should expect delays during the event and are encouraged to use alternate routes.
Additional temporary road closures for various activities:
On Friday, May 3, 2024, the following road closure will be implemented (times approximate):
- Curley Street closed between O’Donnell and Elliott Streets from 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 3rd through 12:00 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2024 (special event)
On Saturday, May 4, 2024, the following road closures will be implemented (times approximate):
- Madison Street closed between Washington and Wolfe Streets from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (crane operation)
- Charles Street closed between Cross and West Streets from 3:00 a.m. Saturday, May 4th through 3:00 a.m. Sunday, May 5, 2024 (special event)
- Eutaw Place closed between Lafayette and McMechen Streets 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (special event)
- Preston Street closed between Maryland Avenue and Cathedral Street from 7:00 p.m. Saturday, May 4th through 2:00 a.m. Sunday, May 5, 2024 (special event)
- Ponca Street closed between Eastern Avenue and Fleet Street from 10:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4th through 1:00 a.m. Sunday, May 5, 2024 (special event)
Motorists traveling in these vicinities should be on the watch for changing traffic patterns and are encouraged to use alternate routes.
Traffic Modifications for the Baltimore Farmers’ Market
This Sunday, traffic modifications will be in effect for the Baltimore Farmers’ Market, which is held under the Jones Falls Expressway along Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay Streets.
On Sunday, May 5, 2024, the following street and lane closures will be implemented from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with parking restrictions in effect:
- Holliday Street closed from E. Pleasant Street to E. Saratoga Street
- Pleasant Street closed at Holliday Street
- Hillen Street center lane closure between Front Street and Fallsway
