Parking, traffic restrictions in place for P. E. I. Marathon

The BMO Nesbitt Burns Prince Edward Island Marathon weekend is here and will run from today to Sunday and a number of parking restrictions will be in place in Charlottetown.

The marathon is bringing more than 2,700 participants to P. E. I. from all over North America and will also have several international participants taking part throughout the nine event categories.

The free P. E. I. Potato Industry Kids Spud Run takes place Saturday at 11 a. m. at the UPEI Alumni Canada Games Track. Registration on Saturday goes from 10 a. m. to 10: 45 a. m.

Marathon weekend registration, Expo and race kit pickup will take place at marathon headquarters in the Confederation Centre of the Arts today from 4 to 7 p. m. and Saturday from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. The pasta supper is at the Urban Eatery on Saturday from 5 to 7 p. m.

Residents and visitors could experience some minor traffic delays across P. E. I. on Sunday due to the number of participants on the highways. Please allow a few extra minutes to get to your destination. The Gulf Shore Parkway in P. E. I. National Park will be closed to all traffic from Brackley Beach to Bayshore Road. Only eastbound traffic will be permitted from Bayshore Road to the Dalvay gate.

The road closure will start at 7: 30 a. m. and it is expected the road will reopen at approximately 10 a. m. Full road closures will be in effect on the Sherwood Road between Brackley Point Road and Route # 2 from 9: 30 a. m. to noon and on University Avenue between Kirkwood Drive and Grafton Street from 9 a. m. to 2 p. m.

Travellers should also note that Grafton Street from Queen Street to Church Street, and University Avenue from Kent to Grafton Street will be closed from Saturday at 2 a. m. to Sunday at 4 p. m. to host the finish line area and ensure the safety of all participants.

There will be no- parking signs put in place on Prince Street from Euston Street to King Street to discourage marathon participants, families and friends from parking there.

Volunteers will be placed along Prince Street to make sure only church- goers are allowed to park near the church areas.