GREAT ESCAPE: A Grand Avoidance of the Prix

Vroom vroom, hon. The Grand Prix is coming to Baltimore this weekend.

We’ll assume that if you have a need for speed, you’ve already made your plans to witness the two-mile, 13-turn street circuit that whips though the Inner Harbor and past Camden Yards this weekend. You’ve already learned about the grandstands, hospitality tents and pedestrian bridges. You gave Colin Powell a long-distance high-five when you heard he was serving as the grand marshal.

You know all about the Checkered Flag Girls, the racing schedule and you probably have the event guide memorized.

But, if you’re like the rest of us who plan to watch the Sept. 2, 3 and 4 events from the relatively exhaust-free setting of our living room couches, or if you think the whole thing is just an inconvenience and a bother, you’ll want to know which streets to avoid.

Gotta take Granny to her favorite downtown restaurant for her birthday? Have an anniversary or a goodbye party to celebrate in style? Stumped because you don’t know how you’re going to get to your event without a private helicopter?

Patch is here to help.

Click here to see a clear map of the track, which helps you visualize which areas of Baltimore you shouldn’t try too hard to visit, if you’re not a racing fan. Click here to read about alternate routes, and here to read a summary of the planned closures and what time they’re in effect.

Best of all, here is an interactive map which helps divert you around the closed roads, if you plan ahead.

Or, continue reading while we sum up at least tonight for you.

Tonight, Wednesday,  Aug. 31, many of the street closures will be in effect after 7:30 p.m.  Here is what you’ll see on the Grand Prix traffic website:

• Pratt Street between Calvert and South Streets –Two-way local access will be maintained from South Street to the road closure near Calvert Street throughout the event period.
• Pratt Street between Penn and Paca Streets – No access to Pratt Street during the event between Paca and Calvert Streets, but access from Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to the closure near Paca Street will be allowed. Two-way traffic will be allowed between Penn and Paca Streets.
• Conway Street between Howard and Light Streets
• Sharp Street at Conway Street – No access to Conway Street during the event, but local access will be maintained from Sharp Street to the south.
• Lee Street between Light and Charles Streets – No access to/from Light Street during the event, but two-way traffic will be maintained from Charles Street eastward to the closure near Light Street to accommodate local access.
• Hughes Street between Charles and Light Streets – Westbound traffic flow along Hughes Street will be reversed to one-way eastbound. Traffic exiting Hughes Street will have to turn right onto Light Street.
• Camden Street between Eutaw and Howard Streets –No access to Howard Street during the event, but local access will be maintained via Eutaw Street nightly.
• I-395 / Howard Street between Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Pratt Street – This stretch of roadway will initially close Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. It will temporarily reopen Thursday morning for northbound traffic only from 6 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and then it will close throughout the event period.
• Greene Street / southbound Russell Street at Washington Boulevard – Motorists will be diverted onto Washington Boulevard after 8 p.m. Local controlled access will be maintained.

It only gets worse, of course. Want to see tomorrow night, and the rest of the weekend? Click here.

Remember, the track will take 30 days to fully dismantle.