Grandma's Marathon Traffic Advisories; William Irvin 5K, Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, Grandma's Marathon Race Details

Grandma's Marathon weekend is finally here! Along with the influx of racers and spectators will come road closures and detours in order to accommodate each of the races.

The City of Duluth alerts the public to the following ways in which each of the events will affect traffic in the downtown area.

William A. Irvin 5K - Race starts at 6:00 PM Friday, June 17

Traffic on Harbor Drive behind the DECC will close to traffic at 3:00 PM and at 5:30 PM traffic will be diverted off portions of Railroad Street for the duration of the race. Motorists should obey temporary "No Parking" areas on Railroad Street and Harbor Drive. Violators will be tagged and towed.

Starting at 5:30 PM, traffic delays will occur for approximately one hour as some portions of Railroad Street are closed from Harbor Drive west to Pier B. Southbound traffic on 5th Avenue West will be allowed down to Railroad Street to access the DECC parking lot. Harbor Drive behind the DECC will also be closed to traffic.

Access to the Aquarium parking lot will be interrupted briefly from about 5:45 PM until about 6:30 PM. After that, all streets leading to the Aquarium will re-open.

Access to the DECC will be through the North Gate - on Railroad Street - from Lake Avenue and from 5th Avenue West. The only exits will be through the Ramp onto Railroad Street and onto northbound 5th Avenue West.

Vehicles on northbound I-35 exiting the 5th Avenue West off-ramp can continue straight to access the DECC G Lot or turn right onto 5th Avenue West to access either the DECC Lot of the Aquarium Lot.

Most traffic should return to normal by 7:30 PM.

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon & 40th Annual Grandma's Marathon

On Friday, June 17:

At 12 Noon, Canal Park Drive from Railroad Street to Buchanan Street will be closed for Grandma's finish line set up. This roadway will remain closed to traffic until after the Grandma's Marathon Finish on Saturday, June 18.

On Saturday, June 18:

Scenic Highway 61 will be closed to traffic at 4:30 AM between Duluth and Two Harbors.
Lakewood, Homestead, Ryan, and McQuade Roads will be closed from the Highway 61 Expressway to Scenic Highway 61 at 4:30 AM.
Avenues leading down to London Road will be closed at 5:00 AM.
London Road will be closed to traffic at 5:45 AM.
Superior Street - from 12th Avenue East to 5th Avenue West will be closed at 5:45 AM.
Harbor Drive, Commerce Street/Railroad Street, Lake Place Drive, and Canal Park will be closed a 5:45 AM.
Northbound traffic on I-35 will be diverted up Mesaba Avenue to 2nd Street at 5:45 AM.
East bound traffic will use 2nd Street to 21st Avenue East, then south to Superior Street and continuing east. This detour will take effect at 5:45 AM.
West bound traffic on Superior Street will turn north onto 21st Avenue East then continue west on 3rd Street. This detour will take effect at 5:45 AM.
The northbound lane of I-35 will be closed at 5:45 AM from Mesaba Avenue to 26th Avenue East. A detour will guide vehicles up to 2nd Street to continue east.
The southbound land of I-35 from 21st and 26th Avenues East will be closed at 4:30 AM.
The freeway and other roadways closed for the Marathon will reopen at approximately 2:00 PM on Saturday afternoon.
Parking is not allowed on the race course. Please observe the "No Parking" signs. Violators will be towed.
Canal Park Area parking is enocuraged at teh Bayfront Festival Park Lots or the DECC - which are accessible from Railroad Street - or the Aquarium Lot which is accessible by 5th Avenue West. Railroad Street may be accesed by either 5th Avenue West of Garfield Avenue.
Traffic to and from Park Point will encounter long delays Friday evening and Saturday. On Saturday - during the Marathon - the only way motorists will be able to reach Park Point and the Canal Park area will be from 5th Avenue West to Railroad Street or Garfield Avenue to Railroad Street. Follow directional arrows along the detour route to reach the Park Point and the Canal Park area without crossing the race course.
Motorists should slow down and be alert to special signing and lane closures on Highway 61 just south of Two Harbors.