The Great North Run - latest on road closures
| Published: 30th September 2008 20:28 |
Runners and spectators gearing up for the North East's famous half marathon this weekend are being urged to follow Northumbria Police advice about road closures and parking.
Over 50,000 athletes and fun runners are expected to line up for this year's Great North Run, which is due to start at 10.40am, on Sunday, October 5. It will be preceded by the National Wheelchair Championships at 10.10am and the Women's British Half Marathon Championships at 10.15am.
The event follows the usual route from Newcastle to South Shields via North West Radial, Central Motorway, Tyne Bridge, Felling by-pass, the A194, John Reid Road, King George Road, Prince Edward Road, Redwell Lane and the Coast Road. This means people should expect roads throughout the length of the route to be affected by closures and parking restrictions. Diversions will be signposted.
In Newcastle, the North West Radial route from Cowhill to the start adjacent to North Terrace Interchange closes at 8pm on Saturday October 4. Part of the Central Motorway will also be affected by this closure.
On Sunday the Central Motorway to the Tyne Bridge will close at 8.45am, the route through Gateshead via Park Lane roundabout, Felling by-pass to White Mare Pool will close at 9am and the route through South Shields via Leam Lane, John Reid Road to the Coast Road will close at 9.45am (Coast Road will be closed at 9am).
Roads will re-open once all runners have passed through and the roads have been cleaned, which in the case of the Newcastle and Gateshead sections should be around 5pm.
Competitors and spectators are advised to use public transport wherever possible. The baggage buses will remain at the start area until 10.10am.
Between 7am and 5pm on Sunday, Nexus will operate a seven and a half minute Metro service between Newcastle International Airport and South Shields and a ten minute service on the North Tyne route. A ten minute service will run between Sunderland and Pelaw.
The cross Tyne Ferry between North Shields and South Shields will run two ferries continuously: No. 1: 8am to 6pm; and No. 2; as demand dictates (available 10am - 5pm).
Regular broadcasts to help keep drivers informed of traffic issues and road re-openings will be given by Metro Radio throughout the day, with the main period seeing bulletins every 15 minutes from noon to 4pm.
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At 20:35 on 30th September 2008, R H commented:
That's really helpful for runners and motorists alike - thank you!
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