Image Credit: okanaganmarathon.ca
October 07, 2015 - 8:30 AM
KELOWNA - Thousands of runners from across the country will be lacing up their shoes and taking part in the 21st annual BMO Okanagan Marathon in Kelowna this weekend.
The race is part of the Okanagan Family Festival Weekend, which includes the 42.2-km marathon, a 21.1-km half marathon, a 10-km run/walk, a 5-km run/walk, a kid’s fun run and an activity centre. The full marathon is a certified qualifier for the 2017 Boston Marathon and many top marathoners from across Canada will be in Kelowna for the event that attracted roughly 3,000 entrants last year.
The Okanagan Family Festival Weekend takes place in downtown Kelowna Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11.
There will be a 3-km Friendship Run with John Stanton, the founder of the Running Room, and a sports expo and kids zone in City Park.
Registration for the family-friendly weekend that raises funds for the Sunshine Foundation Dreams for Kids closes Thursday, Oct. 8 at 3 p.m.
To accommodate the days’ events there will be extensive road closures around downtown.
North of Highway 97, Abbott Street from Leon Avenue to Bernard Avenue will be closed between 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., as will Bernard Avenue from Abbott Street to Water Street, Mill Street from Bernard Avenue to Water Street and Water Street from Bernard Avenue to Sunset Avenue.
Sunset Drive from Water Street to Recreation Avenue will be closed to northbound traffic until 9 a.m. only; southbound traffic should expect delays until 12:30 p.m.
Ellis Street from Recreation Avenue to Broadway Avenue will be closed to southbound vehicle traffic only until 9:30 a.m. and Manhattan Drive and Recreation Avenue between Sunset Drive and Richter Street will be closed until 12:15 p.m.
Richter Street will remains open to vehicle traffic, but motorists should expect delays at Recreation Avenue until 12 p.m.
Weddell Place, Trench Place, Ethel Street, Bay Avenue, Jones Street and Broadway Avenue will also be closed to all but local traffic until 12:30 p.m.
Manhattan Drive and Guy Street will remain open to local traffic only in a clockwise pattern. Drivers should enter and exit at Bay Avenue until 12:30 p.m.
Closures will be in effect south of Highway 97 from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Local traffic will be allowed, but expect delays.
Vehicles looking to access the south end of the city (south of Barrera Road/Casorso Road) are encouraged to use Gordon Drive to avoid road closures and delays. Pandosy Street will remain open however there will be delays as runners cross at West Avenue and Swordy Road.
There will be no access to Abbott Street (southbound) from Highway 97 and vehicles traffic should turn south at Pandosy Street.
Meikle Avenue, Walnut Street, Watt Road and Abbott Street between Highway 97 and Gyro Beach will be closed to southbound traffic only.
Casorso Road from Swordy Road to KLO Road will be closed to northbound traffic only as will KLO Road from Casorso Road to Gordon Drive.
City Park parking lot will be partially closed from Oct. 6 to Oct. 14 for race facilities and the lot will be fully closed Oct. 10 and 11.
Transit customers should expect delays for routes 1, 2 and 8 and there will be no service for North End Shuttle, route 2, along Water Street between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015