Thousands participate in 2024 Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in NYC
NEW YORK — Thousands participated in the 2024 Tunnel to Towers 5K Run and Walk in New York City on Sunday. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was expecting nearly 40,000 people to participate.
This is the 23rd year for the annual race, which follows the path fallen FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller ran on 9/11.
"On that day, when Stephen Siller abandoned his car in the tunnel and ran all the way to the towers, he did that for strangers. He did that for us," said John Lee, with the Nantucket Fire Department.
Frank Siller, Stephen's brother, says it also pays homage to the 343 FDNY firefighters, law enforcement officers and thousands of civilians who lost their lives in the attacks.
"We made a promise that we're never going to forget the sacrifice that was made 23 years ago, and this is proof that Tunnel to Towers holds true to their promise," Siller said.
After the race, there was a festival on Vesey Street in Lower Manhattan with free food, drinks and a concert headlined by Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard.
Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk route map
The Tunnel to Towers 5K begins in Brooklyn near the entrance of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel and ends at West Street and Murray Street in Manhattan. The course is about 3.5 miles long.
Road closures for Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk
The Hugh L. Carey Tunnel was closed from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The following streets in Manhattan were closed for the event:
- West Thames Street between West Street and Dead End (Battery Park Esplanade)
- Liberty Street between West Street and Battery Park Esplanade
- Vesey Street between West Street and North End Avenue
- River Terrace between Warren Street and Vesey Street
- Murray Street between North End Avenue and West Street
- Murray Street between North End Avenue and River Terrace
- Warren Street between West Street and River Terrace
- North End Avenue between Warren Street and Vesey Street
- South End Avenue between West Thames Street and Liberty Street / Dead End
- West Street between Warren Street and Battery Park Underpass / Battery Place
- Battery Park Underpass
In Brooklyn, the following road closures were in effect:
- Beard Street between Richards Street and Dwight Street
- King Street between Dwight Street and Richards Street
- Visitation Place between Van Brunt Street and Richards Street
- Verona Street between Van Brunt Street and Columbia Street
- Delevan Street between Van Brunt Street and Columbia Street
- Commerce Street between Van Brunt Street and Columbia Street
- Seabring Street between Van Brunt Street and Columbia Street
- Bowne Street between Van Brunt Street and Hamilton Avenue
- Hamilton Avenue between Van Brunt Street and Henry Street
- Woodhull Street between Hamilton Avenue and Hamilton Avenue
- Hamilton Avenue between Woodhull Street and Hicks Street
- Columbia Street between Verona Street and Hamilton Avenue
- Dwight Street between Beard Street and Commerce Street/Columbia Street
- Richards Street between King Street and Bowne Street/Hamilton Avenue
- Van Brunt Street between Visitation Place and Hamilton Avenue
- Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (Manhattan-bound Entrance) / Brooklyn Battery Tunnel West
When did the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk start?
The race stepped off at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
Registration and bib distribution for the event closed Saturday afternoon. Runners are not able to register the day of the race.
How do you get to the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk?
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation offered free water taxi service from the Pier 11/Wall Street Terminal in Manhattan starting at 6 a.m. Participants had to be in line by 7:30 a.m. No bags, food or beverages are allowed on the water taxis.
Any participants with a race bib can also get free transportation back to Brooklyn from Pier 11 after the race.
There is no parking near the starting line in Brooklyn and limited parking by the South Street Seaport in Manhattan. Participants and spectators are encouraged to use mass transportation.
What is the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation?
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation helps provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and the families of fallen first responders. The foundation also holds the annual Tower Climb, where participants climb 104 stories inside One World Observatory.