Traffic Control for Highly Attended Events 

Alderman Thorp sent a letter to Mayor Littmann {ITEM }on December 2, 2025, requesting the city develop a plan to improve the insufficient traffic control procedures in place to deal with the high number of vehicles departing popularly attended events on the Eastport peninsula. Of major concern was emergency vehicles unable to respond in sufficient time as well as the major nuisance and inconvenience for residents and visitors.  

The Annapolis Police Department developed a new Traffic Control Plan for major events such as the Blue Angels, Fourth of July fireworks and the Holiday Parade of Lights that was briefed at the Ward 8 Town Hall on March 18.  

The plan was executed for the Blue Angels practice and the Blue Angels performance on May 19 and 20, 2026, with outstanding results.  There were no delays departing Eastport following the two shows. 

We will learn lessons from the Blue Angels events and apply them to the fireworks on 4th of July. 

The Annapolis Police Department will join us for the Ward 8 Town Hall on September 21, 2026, at 7pm at the Eastport Volunteer Firehall to discuss lessons learned and how it went. 

Highlights of the plan are: 

• No parking signs posted on inbound side of Severn Ave from 1st Street to 6th St. 

• No parking signs posted on the church side of Severn Ave from 6th St to Washington Ave. 

• No parking signs posted on the inbound side of Chesapeake Ave from 1st St to 6th St. 

• No parking signs posted on the outbound side of Chesapeake Ave from 5th St to 6th St. 

• The traffic lights on 6th Street at both Severn Ave and Chesapeake Ave blinking and the intersections staffed by Annapolis Police Officers. 

• Cars exiting the peninsula on Chesapeake Ave will be directed to continue onto Bay Ridge Ave, past the Eastport Shopping Center. 

• Cars leaving the Peninsula on Severn Ave will be directed to continue on Severn Ave or onto Bay Ridge Ave. and diverted to depart Eastport expeditiously.  

The Annapolis Police Department is also engaged in ensuring traffic control is managed for Tier 2 events as well, including 

• Annapolis Maritime Museum Sock Burning 

• Eastport-A-Rockin 

• Boatyard Beach Bash 

• Tug-of-War 

• Annapolis Maritime Museum Tides & Tunes Concert Series   

For more information on this program, please contact Alderman Frank Thorp at AldThorp@annapolis.gov