Traffic Disruption for Belfast City Half Marathon

The race starts and finishes on Ormeau Embankment, adjacent to Ormeau Park - the oldest municipal park in Belfast and still one of the largest parks in Belfast. The route is an incredible tour of the capital City, soaking in cultural landmarks like the towering Harland and Wolff Cranes, the vibrant Custom House Square, and the majestic City Hall.

Road closures will be in place across the city to safely facilitate the race. As a result though motorists can expect some disruption throughout the morning and early afternoon, although every attempt will be made to ensure that this is kept to a minimum.

Runners will set off on their journey from Ormeau Embankment at 9am and must complete the course within 3 hours. Roads will start to close wholly or partially from around 7am until 2:30pm. Motorists are asked to follow diversion signs and take direction from stewards on the route. Once all runners have passed points on the route, reopening of the roads will be managed as quickly as possible.

The front runners are expected to pass over the Sam Thompson Bridge onto Airport Road at approximately 9.35am and make their way to Queens Square at approximately 9.40am via Sydenham Road and the Lagan Weir Pedestrian Bridge. The runners are anticipated to pass through the city centre from Custom House Square, via High Street, Cornmarket, William Street, Montgomery Street, Chichester Street, Castle Street enroute to the Falls Road at approximately 9.50am. The area around Victoria Street will be disrupted between 8.30am and 11am.

Disruption can also be expected on Grosvenor Road, Great Victoria Street, and Bruce Street heading towards Dublin Road, Shaftesbury Square and Botanic Avenue from 8.30am to 11.50pm. At approximately 10am the front runners will pass through University Street onto the Ormeau Road, and Ormeau Embankment to the final stretch of the race, finishing with the home straight insight at approximately 10.10am. The final finisher is estimated to arrive at Ormeau Embankment finish line at 12noon.

John Allen, Chairman of the Belfast City Marathon organising committee, commented:

“We are delighted to welcome a record number of participants to the streets of Belfast for what has become a pivotal fixture in NI’s athletic calendar. We would like to extend a word of thanks to the local community for their patience throughout the event, and of course the volunteers who will generously donate their time and play a key role in making the event ‘run’ smoothly. We appreciate the impact and inconvenience of traffic disruption on race day, but ask that motorists please follow the traffic diversion signs and take direction from stewards. These traffic management measures are set up to prioritise safety for participants and road users.”

To review the full road closure notice and to access an interactive map, please visit belfastcitymarathon.com/race-weekend/Travel-&-Transport

For more information and regular updates, visit belfastcitymarathon.com and stay in touch Facebook / @MarathonBelfast Twitter / @marathonbcm Instagram / @belfastcitymarathon

The Moy Park Belfast City Marathon and Half Marathon is sponsored by Moy Park, Northern Ireland Electricity Newtworks, Belfast Live, Daily Mirror, Cool FM, Downtown, Downtown Country, Translink, Better, Tayto, Belfast City Council, Deep RiverRock, Athletics NI, Charles Hurst, Linwoods Health Foods and Mac in a Sac. The official charity partner is Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.