Traffic advisory Saturday for St. Patrick’s Day Run Fest near City Park
Weather permitting, on the morning of Saturday, March 18, the St. Patrick’s Day Run Fest event will be held on the streets of Hagerstown.
The event consists of 5K and 8K races that begin and end near the Maryland Theatre on South Potomac Street. The 5K race course is comprised of a single loop on South Potomac Street, West Memorial Blvd., Surrey Avenue, Virginia Avenue, City Park Drive, Highland Way, Key Street, S. Walnut Street, W. Antietam Street, Summit Avenue, and W. Washington Street. The 8K course is the same as the 5K course, except it includes a 3-kilometer loop through Rose Hill Cemetery. A map showing the race route is attached; the following traffic control plan will be implemented on Saturday morning:
7:30 a.m.: South Potomac Street will be closed to all traffic between Washington Street and Baltimore Street. The right-thru lane of W. Washington Street will be closed to traffic at Summit Avenue; the left-thru lane will remain open to traff
8:30 a.m.: Antietam Street will be closed to all traffic between S. Burhans Blvd. and Walnut Street, and Walnut Street will be closed to all traffic between Washington Street and Park Circle. Cones will be placed on Memorial Blvd. between Surrey Avenue and S. Potomac Street to create a lane for the runners, and vehicular traffic will be restricted to one-way. The 8K race begins at 9:00 AM. Traffic will be stopped on the other race route streets to clear the course.
10:25 a.m.: Traffic on West Washington Street will temporarily be stopped at Summit Avenue to allow 5K racers to assemble at the starting line near the Public Square.
10:30 a.m.: The 5K race begins. Once all runners have passed the starting line, traffic will be allowed to flow in the left-hand thru lane of W. Washington Street.
Police officers, Auxiliary Police, and race marshals will be stationed at all of the street intersections around the route to direct traffic during the race. Motorists approaching the race route should be aware that traffic may be temporarily halted at the various intersections to allow runners to pass by. It is anticipated that all runners will complete the races by 11:30 AM, at which time all of the affected streets will be reopened to full traffic flow. Emergency vehicles will be able to pass through the street closures during the race; however, dispatchers should be aware that traffic may be congested on streets near the race route.
Please contact the City’s Department of Public Works and Parks at 301-739-8577 ,extension 180 if there are any questions regarding this advisory.
