Road closures for the Pittsburgh Marathon will begin as early as Friday, affecting traffic throughout the weekend. Thousands of runners will take to the streets starting with a 5K race on Saturday morning and culminating in the marathon on Sunday.
These road closures will significantly impact traffic flow in Downtown Pittsburgh and beyond. Starting at noon on Friday, the Boulevard of the Allies will close between Wood Street and Stanwix Street. Additional closures will commence on Saturday at 6:45 a.m. for events like the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon, which is designed to encourage youth participation.
The marathon itself will cause further disruptions on Sunday, with road closures beginning at 1:45 a.m. and expected to last until about 2:30 p.m. The race course offers a scenic tour through 14 city neighborhoods, from the West End Bridge to Homewood.
Key closure times:
- Friday: Boulevard of the Allies closes at noon.
- Saturday: 5K and Kids Marathon start at 6:45 a.m.
- Sunday: Marathon road closures begin at 1:45 a.m., ending around 2:30 p.m.
Troy Schooley from P3R emphasized that “Once the final runner crosses the third mile, we will reopen sections at a time, which is great. It’s kind of a rolling opening.” This should help ease some of the congestion as runners finish their races.
For those parking in affected areas, be aware that P3R will post no parking signs along closed streets. Vehicles found in violation of these signs may be towed, so it’s wise to check your parking situation ahead of time. Schooley noted, “If you have your car parked on the street that has a no parking sign, make sure you take care of that because the last thing we want to do is tow cars. We want everybody to have a good time.”
The Boulevard of the Allies is expected to reopen by 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, allowing normal traffic flow to resume after an exciting weekend filled with athletic events.
