Cambridge Half Marathon 2018: Road Closures

The Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon 2018 is taking place on Sunday 4th March and it promises to be one of the biggest ever.

With 9,000 participants signed up and thousands more spectators expected to cheer the runners on, it promises to be a brilliant day in and around Cambridge.

Whether you're taking part yourself, turning up to give encouragement, or just want to avoid the road closures, we have all the information you need below.

Travel information

Snow

With cold temperatures and snow affecting the country this week, runners are being asked to keep up-to-date with event information through social media channels and the race website.

They should also read any emails from the race when they receive them.  The weather situation is being very closely monitored each day and OSB Events are taking every precaution to ensure runners’ safety ahead of the city’s seventh annual half marathon. 

Runners should take normal precautions for running in wintery conditions and dress appropriately.

Thousands of spectators are also expected to turn out to support this popular spring race and they too are advised to wrap up warmly, bring along any extra layers and be fully prepared for the weather conditions.

All those planning to come to the event should keep an eye on travel reports and may need to allow extra time for their journey.

Parking

All car parks will remain open throughout the day of the event, except for a short period of time (09:15 – 10:00) where access to Grafton West Car Park will be restricted.

There will be a number of parking bay restrictions around the route, these will be marked with either advanced warning signage and / or cones. Please pay particular attention to the restrictions on Barton Road, parking in the restricted areas causes moving vehicles to cross into the racing line, endangering the runners.

Buses

All bus services will continue to run on the day of the event, however the stops on Trumpington Street & Downing Street will be suspended up until 13:00, with an alternative stop in place on Emmanuel Street.

Road Closures

Roads

       

From which junctions/roundabouts

        

Direction of closure

        

Times

 
Victoria Avenue Chesterton Road - Maids Causeway Both 04:00 - 16:00 
Maids Causeway / Newmarket Rd Victoria Avenue - Elizabeth Way Both 09:15 - 10:00 
Maids Causeway / Newmarket Rd Victoria Avenue - Elizabeth Way  Eastbound 09:15 - 13:00 
Elizabeth Way Newmarket Road - Chesterton Road Bus Lane Only 06:00 - 13:00 
Chesterton Road Elizabeth Way - Magdalene Road  Westbound Only 06:00 - 13:00  
Magdalene Road / Bridge Street Chesterton Road - Round Church Both 06:00 - 13:00  
Sidney Street / Market Hill / King's Parade Round Church  Trumpington Street Both 04:00 - 11:00  
Trumpington Street King's Parade - The Fen Causeway Both 08:30 - 12:30  
Trumpington Road The Fen Causeway - Church Lane (Trumpington) Southbound Only 08:00 - 12:00 
Church Lane / Grantchester Road / Mill Way / High Street / Coton Road Trumpington Road - Barton Road Both 09:00 - 11:30 
Barton Road Coton Road - The Fen Causeway Westbound Only 06:00 - 13:00 
The Fen Causeway Newnham Road - Trumpington Road Both 06:00 - 13:00 
Silver Street Trumpington Street - Queen's Road Both 08:30 - 12:30 
Newnham Road / Queen's Road The Fen Causeway - Garret Hostel Lane Southbound Only 06:00 - 13:00 
Garret Hostel Lane / St Trinity Lane / Trinity Street / John's Street Queen's Road - Round Church Both 04:00 - 15:00  

Diversions

Full diversion signage will be in place around the City Centre and on the inner/outer ring roads. Please ensure you follow the signage.

Download a copy of the road closures document here.

Access & Egress to Park Street Car Park

Between 09:15 – 10:00 the only permitted access will be from East Road turning onto Parkside, straight onto Parker Street, left turn onto Emmanuel Street,
right turn onto St. Andrew’s Street, filter right onto Hobson Street, turn right onto King’s Street, turn left onto Malcolm Street, turn left onto Jesus Lane and finally right into Park Street.

After 10:00 normal access via Maids Causeway, Jesus Lane, Park Street will be available throughout the remainder of the day.

There will be restricted egress from the Car Park between 09:15 – 10:00, however egress throughout the remainder of the day will be unaffected.
The route will be via Park Street, turn left onto Jesus Lane, when you reach the roundabout you must take the 3rd exit onto Short Street, there will be
no access onto Victoria Avenue or Maids Causeway/Newmarket Road, the bollards on Short Street / Emmanuel Street will be down, at this point you are out of the road closures,
diversions will be in place from this point.

Access & Egress to / from properties around Park Street / Thompson Lane Area

There will be no access/egress via Magdalene/Bridge Street between 06:00 – 13:00. As in previous years, vehicles will be able to access/egress the area via Lower Park Street,
the bollards will be removed. The only exception to this is between 09:15 – 09:45, during this period vehicles will be held at the Victoria Avenue roundabout, before being permitted
to head down Short Street/Emmanuel Road (the cameras will be turned off).

Access & Egress to/from properties around Maids Causeway / Newmarket Road

There will be a short period of time (09:15 – 10:00) when Maids Causeway/Newmarket Road is closed in both directions to allow the 4,500 runners to safely head out along Victoria Avenue onto Maids Causeway and up over Elizabeth Way.

Between 10:00 – 13:00 Maids Causeway/Newmarket Road will revert back to being closed in an eastbound direction only, from the Victoria Avenue roundabout to the Elizabeth Way roundabout. Only vehicles travelling from the
Elizabeth Way/East Road direction will be able to access Maids Causeway. Those travelling from Emmanuel Road/Short Street (bollards will be removed) will be diverted around the roundabout and back out onto the ring road.

All properties North of Maids Causeway/Newmarket Road i.e. Parsonage Street are inside the event route, up until 09:15 vehicles will be able to exit freely onto Maids Causeway – turning right only. After the period of no vehicle movement
(09:15 – 10:00) each of the junctions will be ‘manned’ egress from these properties will still be permitted but under the control of a steward (basically when the road is clear of runners), again right turns only. Once on Maids Causeway
vehicles will be able to head straight over the roundabout onto Jesus Lane or turn left onto Short Street/Emmanuel Road (the cameras will be turned off).

All properties South of Maids Causeway/Newmarket Road i.e. Fair Street are outside the event route, therefore they will be permitted to turn (left only) freely onto Maids Causeway throughout the day, apart from between 09:15 – 10:00.

Access & Egress from De Freville

Chesterton Road which will be closed westbound between Elizabeth Way Roundabout and Magdalene Street junction.

Therefore only vehicles travelling from the Madingley Road/ Northampton Street direction will be able to access Chesterton Road. Those travelling from Elizabeth Way or Milton Road will be diverted onto the Milton Road around the
Staples Island and onto Chesterton Road.

All properties South of Chesterton Road i.e. De Freville Avenue are inside the event route, up until 08:30 vehicles will be able to exit freely onto Chesterton Road – turning right only.

From 08:30 – 13:00 each of the junctions will be ‘manned’ egress from these properties will still be permitted but under the control of the steward (basically when the road is clear of runners), again right turns only.

All properties North of Chesterton Road i.e. George Street are outside the event route, therefore they will be permitted to freely turn (left only) onto Chesterton Road throughout the day.

Access & Egress to the City Centre from the South

There will be some fairly major changes for those looking to access/egress the City from/to the South of the City.

Between 09:00 – 11:30 Trumpington Road will only be open in a North (inbound) direction, as the runners will be on the normal inbound carriageway, vehicles will be switched onto the right hand side of the road (normal outbound
carriageway). Those looking to exit the City will be diverted down Hills Road.

As The Fen Causeway will be closed in both directions between 08:30 – 12:15 anyone travelling into the City via the Barton Road will be diverted onto Queen’s Road and around the ring road, it is highly recommended that those wishing
to access the City Centre from this direction allow additional travel time or that alternative travel options are considered i.e. Park & Ride – Trumpington.

Hills Roads will be unaffected in either direction.

Access & Egress in Trumpington / Grantchester

To safely allow the runners to pass through both Trumpington and Grantchester the roads will be closed in both directions from 09:00 – 11:30, between Trumpington Road/Church Lane (Trumpington) & the Barton Road roundabout
(Coton Road). During this period there will be no vehicle movement permitted in either direction, except emergency vehicles. In addition, where possible parking on the road should be avoided to allow both the runners and emergency
vehicles to pass through safely.

If you are looking to leave Trumpington, it is advisable to do so prior to 09:00. If this is not possible those looking to exit the area should leave their vehicle on Maris Lane before 09:00, from where egress would be permitted (the normal
‘No Exit point’ onto Trumpington Road will be temporarily restricted).

If you are looking to leave Grantchester, it is advisable to do so prior to 09:00. If this is not possible those looking to exit the area should leave their vehicle on Broadway before 09:00, from where egress would be permitted onto Barton
Roadin an eastbound direction only (there may be a delay exiting onto Barton Road so please consider allowing additional travel time).

The Route

Download your copy of the route here.

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