FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Heads up! Little Rock Marathon road closures
will affect downtown traffic patterns
(Little Rock, Ark. - February 21, 2023) - Officials with the Little Rock
Marathon announced today that Race Weekend street closures around Downtown
Little Rock should look familiar, as the race will again use the course
layout adapted for the past two events due to construction on the I-30
Crossing project.
Athletes from around the country and from around the globe will take to the
streets on Sunday, March 5 for the Little Rock Marathon, presented by the
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Race Director Mike Garrity said that many of
those streets will be closed for part of the day - or in some cases, all
weekend - to create a safe environment for participants both on and off the
course.
This year's race will be held in both Little Rock and North Little Rock and
will benefit Little Rock Parks & Recreation.
Garrity said the Marathon has coordinated with several entities working on
the I-30 Crossing project to ensure that the course is not only open for
runners and staff, but safe from construction equipment and debris for Race
Weekend as well.
He explained that for the races on Saturday and Sunday, the Marathon will
use a system of rolling closures, meaning as the athletes approach, the
roads close. "We use the rolling closures to get the streets opened back up
to the public faster," Garrity said. "Once all the athletes clear that
area, it will open back up for public use."
Garrity noted there will be hard closures around the edges of the course
that the general public needs to be aware of and should factor into any
travel they may need to make in and around those areas around Race Weekend.
Garrity specifically mentioned the closure of LaHarpe Boulevard between
State Street and Clinton Avenue. “For anyone trying to leave downtown on
Friday afternoon, it really causes headaches. We understand that people
want to get home quickly to start their weekends away from the crowds Race
Weekend brings to town, so we just ask for a little patience and planning.”
With the exception of the LaHarpe closure, the entire course should be open
for traffic at approximately 3:00 pm on Sunday. LaHarpe from State to
Clinton Avenue will reopen Sunday night by 10:00 pm. Marathon officials
have posted comprehensive information about street closures and fully
detailed course maps are available here: www.littlerockmarathon.com/course
For more information about Race Weekend, please visit
www.littlerockmarathon.com.
Times and locations for street closures are listed below:
Thursday, March 2, 2023
- 9:00 am HARD CLOSURE: Eastbound LaHarpe Blvd., from State St. to
Statehouse Convention will close to one lane for Expo Vendors.
Friday, March 3, 2023
- 9:00 am HARD CLOSURE: LaHarpe Blvd. will close in both directions, from
State Street to President Clinton Avenue. LaHarpe from State to President
Clinton will remain closed until Sunday, March 5 at approximately
10:00 pm.
Saturday, March 4, 2023
- 4:00 am Cumberland northbound at Second Street | Reopens approx. 8:30am
- 5:00 am Markham both east and westbound at Scott Street | Reopens approx.
8:30am
Second Street east and westbound at Scott Street | Reopens approx. 8:30am
- 5:30 am President Clinton Avenue westbound at Ottenheimer/Rock | Reopens
approx. 8:30am
Second Street westbound at Rock Street| Reopens approx. 8:30am
- 6:00 am Main, Louisiana and Center streets northbound at Markham Street |
Reopen approx. 2:00pm
- Main northbound at Second Street | Reopens approx. 2:00pm
- Markham Street from Center to Cumberland | Reopens approx. 1:00pm
- Broadway Bridge southbound to Cantrell Road | Reopens approx. 2:00pm
- 7:00 am Chester Street exit from I-630 - both east and westbound |
Reopens approx. 9:30am
Sunday, March 5, 2023
- 4:00 am Barrels, cones on Cantrell from Junior Deputy to Chester |
Reopens conclusion of race
Cumberland northbound at Second Street | Reopens approx. 9:00am
- 5:00 am Cones on 3rd/Markham from Barton to Kavanaugh | Reopens as course
clears
Cones on Riverfront Drive, northbound | Reopens as course clears
Cantrell Hill eastbound curb lane from Lookout to Cedar Hill | Reopens
approx. 3:00pm
Markham from Center to Cumberland | Reopens approx. 11:00am
Markham both east and westbound at Scott Street | Reopens approx. 9:00am
Second Street east and westbound at Scott Street | Reopens approx. 9:00am
Main, Louisiana and Center streets northbound at Markham Street | Reopen
approx. 2:00pm
Main northbound at Second Street | Reopens approx. 2:00pm
Cones on 6th Street, from 6th to Roundabout | Reopen as course clears
Broadway Bridge southbound to Cantrell Road | Reopens approx. 4:00pm
- 5:30 am Broadway Bridge southbound on North Little Rock side | Reopens
approx. 8:45am
Broadway Bridge northbound on Little Rock side | Reopens approx. 8:45am
Temporary road closures along marathon/half marathon courses | Reopens at
conclusion of race
- 7:30 am Chester southbound at 6th Street | Reopens approx. Noon
Chester Street exit from I-630 - both east and westbound | Reopens
approx. 11:30am
- 8:00 am Brookwood southbound at Cedar Hill | Reopens approx. 3:00pm
Markham/Third Street from Martin Luther King, Jr., to Kavanaugh | Reopens
as course clears
About Little Rock Marathon
The mission of the Little Rock Marathon is to provide a premier event open
to athletes of all abilities, while promoting a healthy lifestyle through
running and walking and raising money for Little Rock Parks & Recreation.
Since its inception in 2003, more than $1 million dollars has been donated
to Little Rock Parks & Recreation. Little Rock Marathon Race Weekend is
held the first weekend in March each year and includes a marathon, half
marathon, 10K, 5K run/walk, a children's mile and a free two-day health and
fitness expo. With an estimated $1.5 million in local spending annually,
more than 140,000 individuals have participated in a Little Rock Marathon
race, sponsored event, or free training program. This has been achieved
through school-based programs, community outreach, partnerships with
running/walking groups across the country and passionate grass roots
promotion.
About Little Rock Parks & Recreation
Little Rock Parks and Recreation oversees 62 developed parks and twelve
undeveloped parks totaling over 6,100 acres. In addition, the Little Rock
Parks & Recreation offers a wide-range of youth and adult recreational and
sports leagues, after-school and summer playground programs for children
ages 6-15, outdoor recreation, therapeutic recreation and programs for
seniors. Little Rock's parks system is not only a source of pride for the
city, but it has received national recognition for excellence! Little Rock
Parks & Recreation became the 30th agency in the United States to receive
accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. Funds raised will continue
to support parks and recreational programs for all ages. For more
information about Little Rock Parks & Recreation please visit
www.littlerock.gov/residents/parks-and-recreation.
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