Construction work on Harborplace’s redevelopment is expected to start by the end of the year with removal of the Light Street-to-Calvert Street “sweep” – the curving five-lane roadway that currently divides two parcels that will be combined along with the roadbed to create the footprint for the multi-building project.
The first phase, called the Inner Harbor Park and Promenade Project, is expected to cost about $300 million, create hundreds of jobs and take six to seven years to complete. It will affect 22 to 23 acres of waterfront, from the Maryland Science Center around to the National Aquarium on Pier 3. Portions of the Inner Harbor promenade will be raised about three feet as a precaution against rising sea water levels.
The two Harborplace pavilions at Light and Pratt streets will be demolished in the first phase because they were constructed above key utility lines, storm drains and other underground infrastructure that is being rebuilt as part of the larger project. Also to be demolished in this phase are two pedestrian bridges connected to the pavilions, one that spans Pratt Street and one that spans Light Street…