The Grandma's Marathon, Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon, and William A. Irvin 5K run mean one thing for folks in Duluth that aren't interested in attending the race, and that is road closures around the city.
If you want to know how the closures are going to affect your drive home from work on Friday afternoon or your potential travel plans for Saturday, fear not, because we have all of that information for you right here.
Road Closures for Friday, June 17 (William A. Irvin 5K)
-Harbor Drive, behind the DECC will be closed to traffic starting at 3:00 p.m.
-Roadways will close to traffic for the William Irvin 5K on Friday night starting at 5:40 p.m., including 5th Ave W and Railroad Street from Harbor Drive to Garfield Avenue.
-Roadways should re-open by approximately 7:30 p.m.
-PARKING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED on Railroad Street or Harbor Drive. Please observe the posted signs. Parking is encouraged in the Bayfront lots and downtown.
Road Closures For Saturday, June 18 (Grandma's Marathon and Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon)
-At 12 noon on Friday, June 18, Canal Park Drive from Railroad Street to Buchanan Street will be closed for Grandma's finish line set up. This roadway will remain closed to automobile traffic until after the Grandma's Marathon Finish on Saturday.
-Scenic Highway 61, along the lake, will be closed to traffic at 4:30 A.M., between Duluth and Two Harbors
-Lakewood, Homestead, Ryan, and McQuade Roads will be closed from the Highway 61 Expressway to Scenic Highway 61 at 4:30 A.M.
-London Road will be closed at 6:00 A.M.
-Superior Street from 12th Avenue East to 5th Avenue West, will be closed at 6:15 a.m.
-Harbor Drive, Commerce Street, Lake Place Drive and Canal Park closed at 6:30 a.m.
PARKING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE RACE COURSE. Please observe the posted "No Parking Signs." Violators will be towed.
In the Canal Park area parking is encouraged at the Bayfront lots. Access to those parking lots will be from Railroad Street. Railroad Street may be accessed by either by 5th Avenue West or Garfield Avenue.
Traffic to and from Park Point will encounter long delays Friday evening and Saturday. On Saturday, during the Marathon, the only way motorists will be able to reach Park Point and the Canal Park area will be from 5th Avenue West to Railroad Street or Garfield Avenue to Railroad Street. An officer there will then direct them along the detour route to reach the Park Point and the Canal Park area without crossing the Race Course.
-Northbound traffic on I-35 will be diverted onto Mesaba Avenue to 2nd Street, continuing East to 21st Avenue East, then south to Superior Street, and continuing East. Westbound traffic from Superior Street will turn North onto 21st Avenue East, then continue West on 3rd Street. This detour will take effect at 6:00 a.m.
-The northbound lane of I-35 will be closed at 6:00 a.m. from Mesaba Avenue to 26th Avenue East. The southbound lane of I-35 from 21st and 26th Avenues East will be closed at 4:30 a.m.
-The freeway, and other roadways closed for the Marathon will reopen at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Motorists should slow down and be alert to special signing and lane closures on Highway 61 Expressway just south of Two Harbors.
Big thanks to Northlands Newscenter for supplying this information courtesy of the Duluth Police Department.