That means there will be some disruption to the normal traffic flow this weekend, especially from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday morning, in Northeast Fresno and Clovis. Plan ahead: How will you get to your church that morning, if that's part of your Sunday routine?
A lot of people complained about the road closures and disruptions last year. This year, the course has been changed -- Willow Avenue will be open during the entire race this year. Other streets will open as soon as the race passes, instead of staying closed until 2 p.m.
Two Cities Marathon Road Closure Schedule (Fresno)
- Friant Road (Audubon to Willow) Closed 5:00 am - 2:00 pm
- Teague at Willow intersection Closed 6:00 am - 11:00 am
- Shepherd Ave (Friant to Willow - eastbound) Closed 6:00 am - 8:30 am
- Shepherd Ave (Friant to Willow - westbound) Closed 6:00 am - 11:30 am
- Cedar at Shepherd intersection Closed 6:00 am - 11:30 am
- Maple at Shepherd intersection Closed 6:00 am - 11:30 am
- Chestnut at Shepherd intersection Closed 6:00 am - 11:30 am
- Audubon (Friant to N. Del Mar - westbound) Closed 5:00 am - 2:00 pm
Two Cities Marathon Road Closure Schedule (Clovis)
- Peach Avenue and Alluvial Avenue at the Old Town Clovis Trail Crossing
- Pollasky between Old Town Trail Exit (north of Sierra near Dewitt) & Eighth (partial between Sierra / Dewitt)
- Clovis Avenue both north and southbound between Eighth Street and Fifth Street
- Clovis Avenue southbound between Fifth Street and Sierra Avenue
- Eighth Street between Pollasky Avenue and Clovis Avenue
- Fifth Street between Pollasky Avenue and Sunnyside Avenue
- Sunnyside Avenue between Fifth Street and Davis E. Cook Way
- Tollhouse Avenue between Sunnyside Avenue and Fowler Avenue
- Fowler Avenue southbound between Tollhouse Avenue and Los Altos Avenue
- Clovis Adult School -- Los Altos Avenue and David E. Cook Way
Willow Avenue will remain open at all times during the event and is the main north and southbound route.
A complete list of road closures and times is listed below and can also be found on the city of Fresno website at www.fresno.gov/traffic.
The road closures are the bad news. The good news is that this event is back, and bigger than it was last year, its inaugural year. Last year, it was limited to 3,000 runners. This year, 5,000 will take to the streets (it's at 96% capacity right now, and is expected to sell out this week).
The number of volunteers has been increased as well (I'll be one of them, working at the expo on Saturday), in hopes of smoothing out rough spots and achieving a balance between keeping runners satisfied so they'll want to come back and do this again, and making residents happy so they'll want to support this event.
Why should Fresno and Clovis residents embrace this event? Because runners travel, from other states and even other countries to take part in races that are well-run, well-supported, scenic, in a temperate climate, on a flat, fast course, any number of reasons. And while those runners are here, they support our hotels, our restaurants, our economy.
So go out and cheer on the athletes. Plan ahead and be patient if road closures delay your travel a little. Recommend good restaurants to people visiting our area. And invite them back next year.
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