Main Street In Ellicott City To Reopen After Flood

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Main Street in Ellicott City will reopen on Friday, July 20. Howard County officials said that the reopening comes earlier than expected.

Two-way vehicular and pedestrian traffic will again be able to travel along the entire length of Main Street in Ellicott City as of 5 p.m. on Friday, July 20, according to Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman.

Kittleman said he will also sign an executive order ending the state of emergency, which will conclude 10 days earlier than anticipated in the order signed by the county council.

Since the May 27 flood that swept through the historic downtown, killing one person, Main Street has been gradually reopening as the area rebuilds and recovers. All but the section of Main Street between Maryland Avenue and Old Columbia Pike reopened in late June.

When Main Street reopens on Friday, July 20, drivers are asked to travel below the 25 mph speed limit.

Several restrictions will be in place on Main Street:

• No parking on Main Street between Maryland Avenue and Old Columbia Pike.
• Loading and unloading only will be permitted between Maryland Avenue and Old Columbia Pike.
• Dumpsters will remain on Main Street and may be relocated after July 30.
• Flagging may be necessary, since construction workers and contractors are working in the area.
• Detours and complete closures of the road again are possible as work continues.

While Main Street is reopening, several areas are still closed as public works crews rebuild.

The following areas remain closed:

• Ellicott Mills Drive
• Hamilton Street
• Parts of parking lots D and F
• Tiber Alley
• New Cut Road

There are traffic-calming measures in place on the west end of Ellicott City because of a closure that remains there; Ellicott Mills Drive is expected to remain closed through late fall after a culvert and portions of the road were washed away during the flood.

Hamilton Street, which usually serves as an entrance to parking lot “D,” will remain closed for repairs. It is expected to reopen by September.

Some parts of parking lots “D” and “F” will be closed so that contractors can use them. Portable restrooms in these areas are expected to remain until the end of August.

Fences block the entrances to Tiber Alley at Maryland Avenue and Main Street.

New Cut Road will be closed "for the immediate future, with limited local traffic," county officials said, since it "suffered significant damage in the May 27 flood."

Howard County officials advise property owners or residents in the area who have ongoing unmet needs to contact Howard County Government Constituent Services at 410-313-2013 and business owners to get in touch with the Howard County Economic Development Authority at 410-313-6500.

RELATED:

• Ellicott City Businesses Begin Reopening On Main Street
• Ellicott City Flood: 'Devastated, Heartbroken' By Roaring Waters

Photo of Ellicott City street sign courtesy of Howard County government.