Funeral For 3 Firefighters To Cause Heavy Traffic: See Road Closures During Procession

BALTIMORE, MD — Drivers should expect heavy traffic on roads in downtown Baltimore Wednesday morning, due to the memorial service for three firefighters who died in the line of duty. Parts of Interstate 83 and I-695 will be closed Wednesday afternoon because of the procession.

Lt. Paul Butrim, Lt. Kelsey Sadler, and Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth Lacayo will be remembered at a funeral service at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the Baltimore Convention Center. They died battling a house fire in southwest Baltimore on Jan. 24. During the two-alarm fire, officials said the building collapsed.

Local roads will be closed downtown around the convention center, including South Charles, Pratt, Sharp, Conway and President streets. See the closures at the end of the article as well as times.

The heaviest traffic downtown will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the Baltimore City Department of Transportation.

The funeral service is expected to last from 10 a.m. to noon and attract thousands of first responders to 1 West Pratt Street.

Afterward, dignitaries will assemble for the funeral procession to Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens at 200 East Padonia Road in Timonium.

Drivers should avoid I-83 north and I-695, including the on-ramps to the expressway, due to the procession from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

During the funeral procession, all mainlines of I-83/the Jones Falls Expressway will be closed.

Access points to the interstate will be closed, as well, including the ramp from President Street to I-83 north and the outer loop of I-695/the Baltimore Beltway as the funeral procession travels along I-83 to Padonia Road.

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Once the procession passes, all access ramps and I-83 and I-695 will reopen, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration, which is helping with logistics.

A wake will follow at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

People can access traffic cameras from the Coordinated Highways Action Response Team and get updates from the Maryland Transportation Authority and Maryland State Highway Administration on Twitter.

Downtown Road Closures, Heavy Traffic Expected

Closures will be in place along these routes, according to city transportation officials:

• Camden Street between Paca and Howard Streets; 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Southbound South Charles Street at Pratt Street; 6 a.m.
• Northbound South Charles Street at Conway Street; 12:30 p.m.
• Westbound Conway Street at Light Street; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Right-lane closure of eastbound Conway Street from I-395 to Sharp Street; 7 a.m.
• Full closure of eastbound Conway Street at 12:30 p.m.

These roads downtown will be "severely impacted" from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., city officials say:

• Pratt Street between Sharp and President Streets
• Charles Street between Conway and Pratt Streets
• Sharp Street between Pratt and Conway Streets
• Conway Street between I-395 and Light Street
• President Street between Pratt Street and the Jones Falls Expressway
• Northbound Jones Falls Expressway between President Street and I-695 Beltway (including all entrance ramps)

Temporary traffic stops are possible around the Baltimore Convention Center, downtown and the Jones Falls Expressway as needed for the memorial and funeral procession, officials said.