Big traffic disruptions expected for St. Jude Marathon starting Friday and into Saturday

Daniel Connolly, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read

Drivers in and around Downtown Memphis and parts of Midtown can expect big traffic disruptions Saturday as thousands of runners come to the area for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon, Memphis police and race organizers said.

Multiple roads in the Downtown area will be closed starting Friday as workers set up for the races and continuing beginning 3 a.m. Saturday until as late as 5 p.m. on Saturday. Some runners will also pass through Midtown and some traffic will be disrupted there as well.

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Drivers should expect delays and should be prepared for police officers to direct them away from certain areas. Some of the road closures are temporary and police will lift the blockages as runners move through.

The 26.2 full marathon course map begins in Downtown, and runners travel well into Midtown before returning to Downtown for the finish. The race day also includes shorter runs with runners staying closer to Downtown.
The 26.2 full marathon course map begins in Downtown, and runners travel well into Midtown before returning to Downtown for the finish. The race day also includes shorter runs with runners staying closer to Downtown.

Race organizers are encouraging people traveling through the area to visit a web site for detailed updates: the link is https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/fitness-fundraisers/memphis-marathon/get-involved/navigating-race-day.html

And the MPD is also referring people to a traffic map here at https://www.waze.com/live-map

More background: St. Jude Memphis Marathon turns 20 as 17,000 runners return to the Bluff City

The St. Jude Marathon will take place Saturday morning.

All races start on B.B. King Boulevard and end at AutoZone Park — both locations are in Downtown. The 5K begins at 7 a.m. The 10K, half marathon and marathon begin at 8 a.m. A one-mile race for children starts at 1:30 p.m.

The 5K and 10K courses wind through Downtown and the St. Jude campus.

The half marathon and marathon routes stretch toward the east down North Parkway. The marathon route goes through Overton Park and will affect some traffic in Midtown.

While the short races are usually completed quickly, the 26.2-mile marathon typically takes many hours.

Investigative reporter Daniel Connolly welcomes tips and comments from the public. Reach him at 529-5296, daniel.connolly@commercialappeal.com, or on Twitter at @danielconnolly.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: St. Jude Marathon road closures: Traffic delays expected