Downtown Baltimore Flooding: Avoid Howard Street

BALTIMORE — A water main break is causing traffic issues in downtown Baltimore, according to the Baltimore City Department of Transportation. Officials advised drivers to avoid part of Howard Street on Monday, July 8.

"Road closures in the downtown area near intersection of Howard & Lombard Streets will significantly affect traffic this afternoon," officials said in a statement around 4:45 p.m. Monday. "Please avoid this area and use alternate routes."

The issues continued after 7 p.m.

Drivers trying to get to Interstate 395 south should use Light Street and Conway Street. Those coming into the city via I-395 north will not be allowed to access Howard Street and will instead be detoured onto Conway, officials said.

Pratt, Eutaw and Paca streets are impacted by the break, according to authorities.

These were the street closures after 5:30 p.m. Monday:

• West Pratt Street and Howard Street
• Howard Street at Camden Street
• I-395 at Howard Street south
• Pratt Street at Paca Street
• Eutaw Street at Pratt Street

"These closures will significantly affect traffic in the downtown area, as Howard Street is a main route for commuters trying to access I-395," officials advised. "Citizens are strongly encouraged to avoid this portion of downtown Baltimore this afternoon and use alternate routes away from the affected area. "

Issues have been ongoing around Howard Street since Monday morning due to a water main break, impacting rail traffic as well as area roads.

The water main break occurred in the area of Howard at Pratt or Camden streets, according to WBAL, which reported a train partially derailed in the area of the Howard Street tunnel as a result of the flooding.

The train tracks were flooded and so was M&T Bank Stadium off Russell Street after 11:30 a.m. on Monday, July 8, according to the Baltimore City Fire Department. No damage was reported at the stadium.

MARC and CSX trains were not able to pass; however, the light rail was still running, the Baltimore City Fire Department reported after 12:15 p.m. By 3 p.m., the light rail was out of commission in the area.

"Due to police and emergency personnel activity near the Convention Center station, Light RailLink service is temporarily suspended between North Avenue and Camden Yards stations," the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) said. "Shuttle bus service will be in place between North Avenue and Camden Yards to accommodate passengers making all station stops in between."

See the latest transit alerts from the MTA.

Also adding to the emergency activity downtown, someone was trapped in a manhole around 2:40 p.m. on Howard at Pratt streets, WBAL reported, stating the victim was rescued from 20 feet down and taken to shock trauma for treatment.

A flash flood watch was in effect for Baltimore and much of the region until 2 p.m. Monday.

Slow-moving storms Monday morning produced 3 to 6 inches of rain in some parts of the Baltimore-Washington metro area, according to the National Weather Service, which issued the watch.

A flash flood watch means conditions may lead to flash flooding, or a rapid rise in water level. Streams and rivers may quickly rise, and roads in flood-prone areas could quickly become impassable, according to the National Weather Service.