The Non-Runner’s Guide to Avoiding the Philadelphia Marathon
OK, fine. In deference to our awesomely toned Be Well Philly colleagues, who are warming up in the halls as we speak, we’ll pretend to be excited about 30,000 shuffling, sweaty people clogging up half the city for most of the weekend. Here’s your day-by-day guide to road closures, courtesy of the Police Department:
The inner lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Friday, November 16 through Sunday, November 18.
Citywide along the 26.2-mile route of the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 18.
The inner drives of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., on Friday, November 16. At 3:30 p.m., two of the westbound lanes will be opened for the afternoon rush hour. At 6:30 p.m., the inner lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed continuously, from 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 16 through the completion of Marathon Weekend on Sunday, November 18, and will be reopen on Sunday, November 18 at 4 p.m.
Street closures will be in effect — from 4 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 17 — in the vicinity of Eakins Oval (on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (from 18th Street to Eakins Oval) and also near Martin Luther King Drive.
On Sunday, November 18, streets will be closed, from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. near Eakins Oval and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 20th Street to Eakins Oval (23rd Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway).
The following streets will be closed at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, November 18, and will reopen, as runners pass through the race course. All race routes will remain closed until 4 p.m.
21st Street, from Spring Garden to Arch streets
22nd Street, from Spring Garden to Arch streets
Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 22nd to 16th streets
Arch Street between 16th to 4th streets
4th Street Arch to Vine streets
Race Street, from 4th Street to Columbus Boulevard
Columbus Boulevard (Southbound lanes), Vine Street to Washington Avenue
Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
South Street, Front to 6th streets
6th Street, Bainbridge to Market streets
Chestnut Street, 6th to 34th streets
34th Street, Chestnut Street to Girard Avenue
Lansdowne Drive, Girard Avenue to South Concourse Drive
South Concourse Drive, Lansdowne Drive to West Memorial Hall Drive
West Memorial Hall Drive, South Concourse to Avenue of the Republic
Avenue of the Republic, West Memorial Hall Drive to Centennial Circle
Old Lansdowne Drive to the Sweetbriar Loop
Black Road
Martin Luther King Drive
Kelly Drive
The Falls Bridge
Ridge Avenue, Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Avenue
Main Street, Ridge Avenue to Green Lane
Motorists and pedestrians can expect significant delays when trying to cross roads on or adjacent to the course. Police will allow traffic through intersections along the course, when possible, depending on the flow of the race participants. All streets that are not a part of the official marathon race route will be reopened by at least 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 18.
