Expect Road Closures For Miami Marathon Sunday
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Life Time Miami Marathon is just one day away and police are warning of road closures Sunday morning.
Many downtown residents and runners are already finding ways to avoid the traffic.
"I saw last night all the barricades and closings," said Elia Mendez, a Downtown residen."Not going to bother with the stress.. Going to take public transportation, metro mover, metro rail and a school bus to Miami Beach. "
As other are getting ready to avoid the marathon and road closures, others are getting ready to be in it.
"We're ready to conquer this tomorrow," said participant Becky Lowell.
Runners from South Florida and around the world are pumped and prepared.
"Sold out crowd of 25 thousand participants," said General Manager and Race Director Javier Sanchez.
Tents are up, barricades are out and traffic is already slowing down as hundreds of thousands of runners get ready to pack the streets for the marathon.
"Just had a nice dinner, pasta you know, the night before you're supposed to have pasta to get your energy. Now I'm going to bed. I have get up very early," said runner Dietrich Neumann.
Anxious for go time, some sleepless athletes checked out the scene before the big day.
"We are just trying to take a look at the finish line before all the people get there and just get mentally prepared," said runner Alexa Arteaga.
The event will shut down parts of the MacArthur Causeway, Venetian Causeway, North Miami Avenue, South Miami Avenue, South Bayshore Drive and Biscayne Boulevard throughout the day.
However, all vehicles will be able to get to all businesses and residences in the affected areas.
Sunday morning there will be lane reductions going east on the MacArthur Causeway from 6:15-8:15 a.m. and on the Venetian Causeway going westbound from 6:45 a.m. until 9:30p.m.
Starting at 6:30 a.m., drivers on N Miami Avenue between 15th and Flagler Street could experience delays until 10:30 a.m. due to lane closures.
All traffic on S. Miami Avenue between SW 15th and SW 32nd could experience delays from 6:35 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and on S. Bayshore Dr., between MCFarlane and HaLasee St., from 7:00 a.m. until noon.
Miami police officers will be on hand to help direct traffic.
Drivers are advised to carefully plan their routes, especially during the morning hours when the event is in full swing.
The race course begins at 6:15 a.m. at American Airlines Arena, heads north and continues through Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, Little Havana, Coconut Grove, and Coral Gables before returning downtown for a finish at Bayfront Park.
Approximately 25,000 runners and walkers are expected to participate in the twelfth annual event. Friends, family and curious spectators will line the 26.2 mile route to cheer on runners.
