Marathon chiefs ask for patience from drivers

More than 14,000 runners will be taking to the streets in Auckland tomorrow for the city’s annual marathon.

Diversions and closures involving roads around Auckland’s CBD and the North Shore will affect motorists — including parts of the northern motorway and several off ramps — on Sunday morning.

The marathon course starts from Devonport on the North Shore, heads through Takapuna then turns south over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The route continues along the waterfront and heads out on Tamaki Drive to St Heliers before returning to finish at Victoria Park.

Parking restrictions will be in force in the city and the North Shore, with restrictions beginning this afternoon.

Restrictions on Jellicoe St, Viaduct Harbour Ave, Customs St West, Lower Hobson St and Quay St operate between 2am and 1.30pm.

There will also be some restrictions on Tamaki Dr from 5am to 1pm.

“The roads surrounding the race will be monitored throughout the day to ensure disruption is minimised,” said AT spokesman James Ireland.

“We want drivers to make sure they stay safe and be patient. We realise this can be a challenge but all the detours will be signposted and we’re confident it will all go smoothly.”

Ireland said anyone intending to go into the city tomorrow should plan ahead and think about taking public transport.

The northern busway on the Harbour Bridge would be completely closed between 4am and 11am, as would southbound lanes one and two of the Northern Motorway between Esmonde Rd and Shelly Beach Rd.

The Onewa Rd and Current St on ramps as well as the Shelly Beach Rd on ramp would be closed between 4am and 11pm.

The Fanshawe St off ramp would also be closed between 2am and 3pm.

Several bus routes, including the CityLink and SkyBus routes, would be diverted during the race between 5am and 3pm.

Nearly 1000 volunteers will be helping out on the course tomorrow, helping hand out 15,000 litres of Powerade in 175,000 cups.

Six thousand road cones and 3000 metres of barrier fencing would help mark out the course.

And as the race goes on, 12 Kiwi families will be watching things unfold with a bit more interest than usual.

The winners of the ASB Auckland Marathon’s Run Down The Rate campaign will receive a market- leading home loan rate to match the winning time at the marathon.

Last year’s Auckland Marathon title is held by Aaron Pullford, who crossed the finish line in two hours, 27 minutes. If a runner repeats that effort this year, this would make the home loan rate 2.27 per cent.

On that rate, each of the 12 recipients could potentially save themselves up to $ 23,683 in home loan interest repayments.