The Baltimore City Department of Transportation today announced a number of road closures and detours that will affect traffic during Sunday's Greek Independence Day parade and the Seton Keough Gator Race.
The Greek Independence Day parade will start at 2 p.m., leaving from Eastern Avenue and Haven Street. The parade will proceed east on Eastern Avenue to Ponca Street, then travel south along Ponca Street to the church parking lot near Fait Avenue, where it will end.
The parade will begin forming about 11 a.m. along Eastern Avenue, near the underpass between Haven and Lehigh streets. It is expected to last about three hours.
Transportation officials encouraged motorists traveling in the area to use alternate routes. The following streets will be closed during the parade:
7 a.m.: Ponca Street from Eastern Avenue to Fleet Street. 7 a.m.: Fleet Street from Oldham to Quail streets. 11 a.m.: Eastern Avenue from Haven to Ponca streets. 11 a.m.: Ponca Street from Fleet to Hudson streets.
Authorities said the following detours are also expected:
Eastbound Eastern Avenue traffic will be detoured left (north) on Haven Street, right (east) on Lombard Street, then right (south) on Ponca Street, and left (east) back onto Eastern Avenue. Westbound Eastern Avenue traffic will be detoured right (north) on Ponca Street, to left (west) on Lombard Street, then left (south) on Haven Street, to right (west) back onto Eastern Avenue.
Meanwhile, the Seton-Keough 5-kilometer race will begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday at Seton Keough High School at 1201 S. Caton Ave. Runners will proceed north on Caton Avenue, east on Wilkens Avenue, then south on De Soto Road, to a turnaround point at Herkimer Street, after which participants will follow the same route back and finish on school grounds.
The race is expected to last about an hour.
Officials said De Soto Road will be closed to through traffic between Wilkens Avenue and Herkimer Street from 8-10 a.m.
The following lanes will also be closed from 8-10 a.m.:
One lane of northbound Caton Avenue from the Interstate 95 merge lane to Wilkens Avenue. One lane of eastbound Wilkens Avenue from Caton Avenue to De Soto Road.
The following detours will also be in effect:
Northbound De Soto Road traffic will be detoured west on Washington Boulevard, north on Caton Avenue, east on Wilkens Avenue, back to De Soto Road. Southbound De Soto Road traffic will be detoured west on Wilkens Avenue, south on Caton Avenue, east on Washington Boulevard, back to De Soto Road.
March 30, 2005, 1:55 PM EST
