Greater Manchester residents are being reminded that the adidas Manchester Marathon is returning to the region this weekend, with road closures affecting journeys by car.
On Sunday 14 April, around 32,000 runners are due to take part in the race, which is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the running calendar, with thousands more expected to come and watch.
The 26.2-mile route starts below the Trafford Arch before cruising into the city centre and taking in areas such as Sale, Altrincham, Timperley, Chorlton an Hulme. Runners will finally cross the finish line close to Emirates Old Trafford and UA92.
The transport network in Manchester and Trafford will be very busy before, during and after the race, with a significant number of road closures in place. Many bus services will be on diversion and even those not directly impacted by the marathon closures could still be affected by displaced traffic and congestion.
Tram will be the best way of getting around for most, and dedicated travel advice for spectators and the wider travelling public can be found on the TfGM website.
People are advised to ‘travel smart’ and leave the car at home to avoid expected congestion on the roads, or to use park and rides and travel to their destinations by tram. If you’re out and about, you can download the Bee Network app to plan your journey, take a look at live departures from your tram stop or visit our travel alerts hub.
Metrolink will be operating a seven and a half minute frequency on the Altrincham line with more double trams and increased capacity on the network. However, services are expected to be extremely busy throughout the day. If you can travel flexibly, the predicted quietest time to travel is after 4pm.
If you’re a spectator who needs to drive, a great option is to park at Parkway and hop on the tram to Wharfside to cheer your runner on. From there you can get back on the tram to Deansgate-Castlefield to celebrate with them afterwards.
Fran Wilkinson, Customer and Growth Director at TfGM, said: “The Manchester Marathon is always a fantastic occasion. We wish everyone taking part the best of luck and are looking forward to helping runners and spectators get to and from the event as smoothly as possible.
“It’s sure to be a busy day and we’d encourage anyone travelling on Sunday – whether their trip is for the marathon or other reasons – to please check our dedicated webpage for how your journey may be impacted by road closures, bus diversions and busy periods.
“To avoid congestion and for a more enjoyable trip, consider jumping on the tram and using a contactless payment for a fast and efficient way to travel. Park and Ride sites also provide a free place to park before completing your journey on the tram to the race.”
“If you are coming as a spectator, why not avoid the busy start and finish points and cheer on your runner from one of the lovely places along the route – whether that’s Sale, Altrincham, Chorlton or somewhere else- and enjoy what south Manchester has to offer?
“All the areas along the route are served by tram stops and it’s more likely you’ll be able to get from A to B more easily.”
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