The Baltimore City Department of Transportation would like to advise motorists of the commercial vehicle restrictions and traffic modifications that will be implemented for Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Inner Harbor.  

In preparation for the festivities, temporary commercial vehicle restrictions will be in effect from 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 31, 2018 until 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 01, 2019.  During this time, commercial vehicles will not be permitted in the downtown / Inner Harbor areas of Baltimore City, except for local deliveries.  Please note that tanker trailers will not be permitted downtown during this time, including those for local deliveries.  This commercial vehicle restriction excludes cabs, buses and other mass transportation vehicles.

Motorists should pay strict attention to the restrictions and road/lane closures in effect on New Year’s Eve.  Commercial vehicle restrictions, along with all parking restrictions will be strictly enforced. 

The following streets will be affected by the temporary commercial vehicle restrictions:

• Fayette Street from Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) to President Street (no commercial vehicles will be allowed to travel on or south of Fayette Street)

• President Street from Aliceanna to Fayette Streets (no commercial vehicles will be allowed to travel on or west of President Street)

• Light Street from Pratt Street to Key Highway

• Key Highway from Light to McComas Streets

• Hanover Street from McComas to Montgomery Streets (no commercial vehicles will be allowed on or north of McComas Street, including Hanover Street)

• Pratt and Lombard Streets from Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to President Street

• I-395 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. split to Pratt Street (no commercial vehicles will be permitted on I-395)

The following streets will be closed from 11:15 p.m. on December 31, 2018 until event traffic clears:

• Pratt Street will be closed at Charles Street – Pratt Street traffic will be diverted north on Charles Street to continue east on Baltimore Street.

• Lombard Street will be closed at President Street – Lombard Street traffic will be diverted north on President Street to continue west on Fayette Street. 

The following streets will be closed from approximately 11:30 p.m. on December 31, 2018 until event traffic clears:

• Northbound Light Street will close at Lee Street – Northbound Light Street traffic will be diverted west onto Lee Street to continue north on Charles Street.

• Southbound Light Street will closed at Lombard Street – Southbound Light Street traffic will be diverted west onto Lombard Street to continue south on Greene Street.

• Northbound I-395 traffic at Conway Street will be detoured north on Howard Street.  No access will be allowed onto eastbound Conway Street.

The following lane closures will be implemented at 6:00 p.m. on December 31, 2018 until 2:00 a.m. on January 01, 2019 for emergency vehicle use only:

• West side of Charles Street from Conway to Fayette Streets

• West side of Light Street from Fayette to Conway Streets

The following parking restrictions will be in effect from 6:00 p.m. on December 31, 2018 until 3:00 a.m. on January 01, 2019:

• Gay Street from Pratt to Fayette Streets

• Calvert Street from Pratt to Fayette Streets

• Baltimore Street from Charles to Gay Streets

• South side of Key Highway from Light to William Streets

Due to the large number of people expected in the downtown area for New Year’s festivities, patrons attending the events are strongly encouraged to use public transportation including mass transit, the Light Rail, metro subway and the Charm City Circulator. 

Patrons who wish to drive downtown should park at commercial parking facilities and avoid area neighborhoods.  Motorists should exercise patience and be on the watch for pedestrians while driving downtown, especially when approaching area crosswalks.  Transportation Enforcement Officers along with the Baltimore City Police Department will be working throughout the downtown area to help facilitate the movement of traffic. 

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