Grandma’s Marathon Traffic Advisories Announced

Grandma's Marathon weekend is an exciting time in the Northland and knowing related traffic advisories can help you navigate your way around the races.

Grandma's Marathon has announced the following event related travel advisories:

William A. Irvin 5K - Friday, June 15 

• The race will begin at 6:00 p.m. Traffic on Harbor Drive behind the DECC will be closed at 3:00 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m., traffic will be diverted off portions of Railroad Street for the duration of the race.
• Motorists should obey temporary “No Parking” areas on Railroad Street, Lake Place Drive, and Harbor Drive. Violators will be tagged and towed.
• Starting at 5:30 p.m., traffic delays will occur for approximately one hour as some portions of Railroad Street are closed from Harbor Drive, west to Pier B.
• Southbound traffic on 5th Avenue West will be allowed down to Railroad Street to access the DECC parking lot. Harbor Drive behind the DECC will also be closed to traffic.

Keep in mind that access to the aquarium will be interrupted from 5:45 p.m. until about 6:30 p.m.

Also, access to the DECC will remain throughout the race at the North Gate on Railroad Street from either Lake Avenue or 5th Avenue West.

All traffic should return to normal by 7:30 p.m.

Grandma's Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon - Saturday, June 16 

• Canal Park Drive from Railroad Street to Buchanan Street will be closed for Grandma's finish line set up beginning at noon Friday until after the Grandma's Marathon Finish on Saturday June 16.
• Scenic Highway 61, between McQuade Road and Ryan Road, will be closed to traffic at 4:00 a.m.
• The remainder of Scenic Highway 61, along Lake Superior, from Duluth to Two Harbors, will be closed to traffic at 4:15 a.m.
• Motorists should slow down and be alert to special signing and lane closures on Highway 61 Expressway just south of Two Harbors, starting at 4:15 a.m.
• Lakewood, Homestead, Ryan, and McQuade Roads will be closed from the Highway 61 Expressway to Scenic Highway 61 at 4:15 a.m.
• Harbor Drive, from the DECC East Gate to the Aquarium, will be restricted to buses only at 4:30 a.m. Harbor Drive will close to all traffic at 5:45 a.m.
• Avenues leading to London Road will be closed at 5:00 a.m.
• London Road will be closed to traffic at 5:45 a.m.
• Superior Street, from 12th Avenue East to 3rd Avenue East, will be closed at 5:45 a.m.
• Michigan Street, from 4th Avenue East to 5th Avenue West, will be closed at 5:45 a.m.
• Commerce Street/Railroad Street, Lake Place Drive and Canal Park will be closed at 5:45 a.m.
• Northbound traffic on I-35 will be diverted up Mesaba Avenue to 2nd Street at 5:45 a.m.

Please keep the following detours in mind as you travel:

• East Detour - Eastbound traffic will use 2nd Street from Mesaba Ave. to 21st Avenue East, then proceed south to Superior Street, and continue east on Superior Street. This detour will take effect at 5:45 a.m.
• West Detour - Westbound traffic will use Superior Street from the Highway 61 Expressway to 21st Avenue E., proceed north onto 21st Avenue East, then continue west on 3rd Street to Mesaba Ave. This detour will take effect at 5:45 a.m.
• The northbound lanes of I-35 will be closed at 5:45 a.m. from Mesaba Avenue to 26th Avenue East. A detour will guide vehicles up to 2nd Street to continue east.
• The southbound lane of I-35 from 21st and 26th Avenues East will be closed at 4:30 a.m.

All Grandma's Marathon related road closures should be open again around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The bottom line is if you're traveling near the race courses, give yourself a lot of time to reach your destination, follow traffic signs police instruction, and drive carefully as there will be increased pedestrians along many roadways.