Baltimore officials are warning of heavy traffic downtown Saturday as the city hosts the Maryland Cycling Classic, an Orioles home game marking a Cal Ripken milestone and a sold-out Benson Boone concert at CFG Bank Arena.

“This is a major city with major city events. There will be traffic,” Mayor Brandon Scott said at a news conference Wednesday, encouraging drivers to consult the Waze app before making their way downtown this weekend.

Several downtown streets will be closed starting Thursday evening for the Maryland Cycling Classic. There will be a “full” MetroLink Subway shutdown Saturday for testing, according to an email to city officials from Alpha Davis, deputy director of the Maryland Department of Transportation, that was reviewed by The Banner.

Davis wrote that bus service would be provided between stations, but indicated that staff had not yet planned where or how the bus would cross the streets that are closed for the racing event. MDOT officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Advertise with us

Charm City Circulator and MTA buses will also be running on a modified schedule Saturday, and service may be delayed.

Maryland Cycling Classic

The Saturday event includes professional men’s and women’s races. Both races will be held on a circuit course through the city that starts at Harbor Point’s Central Plaza, goes over the cobblestones of Fells Point and around Patterson Park before coming back to Mount Vernon, winding its way up Falls Road to Northern Parkway, and then eventually coming back down along St. Paul Street. The races end on East Pratt Street along the Inner Harbor.

Read More

The Maryland Cycling Classic is back, but this year just in the city

View post on X

Lanes along Pratt Street between Beluga Boulevard and President Street will be closed starting at 7 p.m. Thursday. Pratt Street will be fully closed from South Gay to President streets starting at 11 p.m. Friday through midnight Sunday.

Streets along the race circuit will be closed Saturday morning until around 6 p.m. There will be detours and parking restrictions in place, as well as commercial vehicle restrictions. The Baltimore Police Department will also manage rolling closures along the race route throughout Saturday.

The following roads and lanes will be closed:

Advertise with us
  • Market Place from East Pratt to Lombard starting Friday evening through midnight Sunday;
  • Jones Falls Expressway/I-83 South at Maryland Avenue on Saturday from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
  • The intersection of Dock Street at Central Avenue, from 5 a.m. Saturday through midnight Sunday;
  • The intersection of Dock and Wills streets, from 5 a.m. Saturday through midnight Sunday.

Check the Baltimore City Department of Transportation‘s website for a comprehensive list of streets along the race circuit that will be closed Saturday. The city also has an interactive road closure dashboard for the race.

Orioles game and Benson Boone concert

The Orioles host the Dodgers starting at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, with the club marking the 30th anniversary of Ripken playing in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking the record previously held by Lou Gehrig.

Doors for the Benson Boone “American Heart” tour concert at CFG Bank Arena open at 6:30 p.m. and the event starts at 8 p.m.

Boone concert and Orioles game attendees should use Interstate 395 to and from the venues, the department said.

“We want folks to enjoy themselves at the game, at the concert, at the race, but understand there will be significant traffic impact,” Scott said.