Marathon events make for tough weekend travel in city

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

If you’re among the 40,000 runners in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon on Sunday or plan to be one of the estimated 350,000 watching the race, leave home early. If not, it might be a good idea to stay away from the 26.2-mile course.

The marathon is the main event during a weekend of running and related activities that will create challenges navigating the city. There will be road closings and public transit detours. The good news is, PennDOT has no major disruptions planned.

The traffic fun begins at noon Friday, when the Boulevard of the Allies closes between Wood and Stanwix streets through Sunday afternoon. That’s so race officials can prepare the finish line area for several race-related activities.

The real action gets underway Saturday, when road closures Downtown and on the North Shore begin at 7:15 a.m. and continue until about noon. General Robinson Street, where Saturday’s shorter races begin, closes at 5:30 a.m.

Parking is available at Gold Lots 1 and 2 on the North Shore beginning at 6 a.m., and cash-only parking at the West General Robinson Street garage begins at 5:30 a.m.

Events start at 8 a.m. Saturday, with the UPMC Health Plan/ UPMC Sports Medicine Pittsburgh 5K Run, followed by the Toyota Pittsburgh Kids Marathon one-mile run at 9:30 a.m. In between, the Toddler Trot will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Point State Park.

The 5K begins on General Robinson and loops around Allegheny Commons and the former Allegheny Center before crossing the Clemente Bridge into the Cultural District and along Wood Street to the finish. The one-mile run has the same start but heads straight across the Clemente Bridge.

As a result, beginning at 7 a.m., Port Authority buses will operate only along Smithfield Street. To accommodate fans going to the