News and Sentinel Half Marathon to affect traffic routes
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PARKERSBURG -- Motorists will have to adjust their routes or be prepared for delays Saturday morning as runners and walkers compete in The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon and Two-Mile Race.
"The roads are closed to protect the safety of both the runners and walkers and the traveling motorists," said Art Smith, race co-director. "The streets will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so."
The Belpre Bridge closes at 7:30 a.m.
The races begin at Third and Juliana streets by the Towne Square parking garage entrance. The wheelchair race starts at 7:50 a.m., followed by the Half Marathon at 8 and the Two-Mile at 8:10.
At 6 a.m., the U.S. 50 eastbound Juliana Street exit will be blocked with barricades to prevent traffic from entering downtown.
Other streets and intersections affected by the races are:
* Third and Juliana
* Fourth and Juliana
* Fifth and Juliana
* Sixth and Juliana
* Seventh and Juliana
* Eighth and Juliana
* 13th and Juliana
* 13th and Ann
* 13th and Murdoch
* 13th and Garfield
* Fourth and Ann
* Third and Ann
* U.S. 50 westbound exit ramp and Blennerhassett Heights
* U.S. 50 eastbound exit ramp and Fort Boreman Drive
* Fort Boreman Drive and Fries Parkway
* Fries Parkway and Marrtown Road
* West Virginia 95 and Marrtown Road
* West Virginia 95 and Gihon Road (ramp)
* Gihon Road under the West Virginia 95 overpass
* South Street and Gihon Road
* Lost Pavement and Gihon
* Turnberry Lane
* Latana Lane
* Gardenia Drive
* Gihon Road and Hope Hill Road
* Nash Street and Gihon Road
* Villa Drive
* Gihon Road and Division Street Extension
* Gihon and Neal Street
* Hamilton Street
* Hugh Street
* Belmont Road
* Lenore Street
* Pennsylvania Avenue
* Gihon Road and David Lee Drive
* Capitol Drive, Beverly Street, Hampton Street, Fairfax Street, Tygart Street
* Gihon Road and Pike Street
* West Virginia 95 and Rayon Drive
* West Virginia 95 and Old Camden Avenue
* West Virginia 95 (Camden) and East Street
* Fifth Street and U.S. 50 East ramps, Fifth Street and U.S. 50 West ramps, Fifth and Green
* Sixth and Avery, Seventh and Avery
* Eighth and Avery (no northbound traffic)
* Eighth and Clay, 13th and Avery
* 13th and Quincy
* 13th and St. Marys
* 13th and Lynn
* 16th and Lynn
* 17th and Lynn
* 17th and St. Marys Avenue
* 11th and Market
* 13th and Market
* Ninth and Market, Eighth and Market
* Seventh and Market (5 a.m.)
* Fifth and Market
* South side of the Juliana Street Bridge (6 a.m.), Old Camden Avenue and Rayon Drive
* Old Camden and Elder, Rayon Drive and 12th Avenue
"There will be a public safety official or a volunteer stationed at every intersection along the Two-Mile Race and Half Marathon route," Smith said. "Please help keep the race safe by obeying traffic control devices and volunteers and public safety workers that may be assisting at intersections.
"They are there to help direct traffic away from the race competitors and for the safety of everyone involved. Please help them do their jobs by following their instructions."
People who have to work Saturday morning or have to go through town related to other matters are asked to find alternative routes and to give themselves extra time to get safely there, race officials said.
"Please show your support for your friends and neighbors participating in this community event," Smith said. "A little good cheer can go a long way in helping these athletes get through over 13 miles of this race."