City Subscriptions

DPD issues Grandma’s Marathon Race Weekend Traffic Advisories

[Duluth, MN] The City of Duluth, the Duluth Police Department are preparing for Grandma’s Marathon. One portion of the preparation comes in the form of streets closures and traffic changes. These changes are lengthy, and are listed below.

The schedule of events for Grandma’s Marathon and other races impacting traffic are as follows:

• 28th ANNUAL WILLIAM IRVIN 5K

Friday, June 18, 2021, 6:00 p.m. Start

• GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON    - DUO (Adaptive) Division

Saturday, June 19, 2021, 5:45 a.m. Start

• 31st ANNUAL GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON    

Saturday, June 19, 2021, 6:00 a.m. Start

• GRANDMA'S MARATHON – Wheelchair & Duo Division

Saturday, June 19, 2021, 7:40 a.m. Start

• 45th ANNUAL GRANDMA'S MARATHON:

Saturday, June 19, 2021, 7:45 a.m.  Start     

Traffic Advisory – Wednesday, June 16, 2021 – Canal Park Drive

On Wednesday, June 16, crews will be installing a temporary pedestrian bridge over Canal Park Drive, just South of Buchanan Street, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The road will remain open, but motorists should expect short delays during this time. The bridge construction will be completed on Thursday, June 17, by 11:00 a.m. Traffic will be managed as needed by construction crews.

Traffic Advisory - Friday, June 18, 2021 - WILLIAM A. IRVIN 5K

The William Irvin 5K race will begin at 6:00 p.m. Harbor Drive directly behind the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) will close to traffic at 5:00 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., portions of Railroad Street will close to traffic for the duration of the race. Most traffic should be fully restored by 7:30 p.m.

The public is asked to watch for no parking signs, barricades, and Officers directing traffic when driving in the area of this event. Motorists should obey temporary “No Parking” areas on Railroad Street, Lake Place Drive, and Harbor Drive.  Violators will be ticketed and towed.

At 5:30 p.m., traffic delays will occur for approximately one hour as portions of Railroad Street close from Lake Ave. to Pier B Resort.  Southbound traffic on 5th Avenue West will be able to access the DECC parking lot via Railroad St. throughout the race.  Harbor Drive behind the DECC will also be closed to traffic.

The Great Lakes Aquarium parking lot will not be accessible from 5:45 p.m. until approximately 7:15 p.m.

Access to the DECC during the race will be through the North Gate (on Railroad Street) or the East Gate (on Harbor Dr), from Lake Avenue or 5th Avenue West.  Outbound traffic from the DECC will only be offered at the West Gate (5^th Ave W) from 5:00-7:30 p.m.

Vehicles on northbound I-35 exiting on the 5th Avenue West off-ramp can either continue straight to Lake Avenue to access the DECC Lot or turn right onto 5th Avenue West to access either the DECC Lot or the Aquarium Lot.

Traffic Advisory - Saturday, June 19, 2021 - MARATHON & HALF MARATHON

On Friday, June 18:

At 6:00 a.m. on Friday, June 18, Canal Park Drive from Railroad Street to Buchanan Street will be closed to most traffic to allow for Grandma's finish line set up.  Guests staying in the hotels along Canal Park Drive will have limited use of the road to access their hotels on Friday.  Traffic accessing locations South of Buchanan Street should use South Lake Avenue to Buchanan, not Canal Park Drive.

Canal Park Drive will remain closed to automobile traffic until after the Grandma's Marathon Finish on Saturday, June 19.

On Saturday, June 19:

ROAD CLOSURES:

• Scenic Highway 61, between      McQuade Road and Ryan Road, will close to traffic at 3:45 a.m. 
• The remainder of Scenic Highway      61, along Lake Superior from Duluth to Two Harbors, will close to traffic      at 4:15 a.m. 
• Motorists should slow down and be      alert to special signing and lane closures on the Highway 61 Expressway      just south of Two Harbors, starting at 4:15 a.m.
• Lakewood, Homestead, Ryan, and      McQuade Roads will close 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 5:30 a.m.
• Most avenues leading to London      Road will close at 4:30 a.m.

Starting at 5:30 a.m., the following roads will close to traffic and will remain closed until the end of the Marathon:

-All of London Road,

-Superior Street from 12th Avenue East to 3^rd Avenue East,

-Michigan Street from 4^th Avenue East to 5^th Avenue West,

-Commerce Street/Railroad Street, Lake Place Drive, and Canal Park Drive

• The southbound lanes of I-35 from      21st and 26th Avenue East will close at 4:30 a.m. 
• The northbound lanes of I-35 will      close at 5:30 a.m. from Mesaba Avenue to 26th Avenue East.  A detour will guide vehicles to 2^nd      Street to continue east.
• Northbound traffic on I-35 will      be diverted up Mesaba Avenue to 2nd Street at 5:30 a.m.
• Westbound traffic on 1^st      Street will not be able to access Mesaba Avenue and will instead be      diverted to Superior Street and I-35 at 6^th Avenue West at 5:30      a.m.
• Interstate 35 and most other      roadways closed for the Marathon will reopen by approximately 3:30 p.m. on      Saturday afternoon. 

ACCESS & DETOURS:

PARK POINT AND CANAL PARK ACCESS:

The only access for motorists wanting to reach Park Point or the Canal Park area during the Marathon on Saturday will be on Lake Avenue from Superior Street.  There will be no vehicle access to Park Point or Canal Park from 5^th Avenue West.

DECC ACCESS:

Motorists wanting to reach the DECC or Bayfront area during the Marathon on Saturday must use either 5^th Avenue West or Garfield Avenue to Railroad Street.  There will be no vehicle access to the DECC from Lake Avenue

LONDON ROAD ACCESS

All of London Road will close to traffic from 5:30 a.m. until approximately 3:00 p.m.  Local residents and spectators along London Road can use Superior Street  and Jefferson Street to access the avenues above London Road for parking during the Marathon.  Spectators are encouraged to continue using the sides of London Road for watching the race.

DEPOT, LIBRARY, AND GATEWAY TOWER ACCESS

The Depot, the Duluth Downtown Library, and Gateway Towers will be accessible from Superior Street to 6^th Avenue West during the Marathon.

THE FOLLOWING DETOURS WILL BE IN PLACE FOR I-35, LONDON ROAD, SUPERIOR STREET, AND MICHIGAN STREET, STARTING AT 5:30 A.M., SATURDAY:

-EASTBOUND LOCAL STREETS AND NORTHBOUND I-35 DETOUR- Traffic will use 2^nd Street from Mesaba Ave. to 3^rd Avenue East, then proceed up 3^rd Avenue East to 4^th Street, then travel East on 4^th Street to 10^th Ave East, down 10^th Avenue East to 2^nd Street, then use 2^nd Street to 21^st Avenue East, down 21^st Avenue Ave East to Superior Street, and continue east on Superior Street. 

-WESTBOUND LOCAL STREETS AND SOUTHBOUND I-35 DETOUR - Traffic will use Superior Street from the Highway 61 Expressway to 21^st Avenue East, proceed north on 21^st Avenue East, then continue west on 3^rd Street to Mesaba Avenue. 

PARKING:

Parking is not allowed on any part of the race course.  Please observe the posted "No Parking" signs.  Violators will be ticketed and towed. 

CANAL PARK AREA PARKING

Motorists wanting to park near Canal Park are encouraged to use parking lots at the following locations: Bayfront Park, the DECC, the Great Lakes Aquarium, or downtown parking lots close to Lake Avenue. 

Motorists wanting to reach the DECC or Bayfront area during the Marathon on Saturday must use either 5^th Avenue West or Garfield Ave. to Railroad Street from 5:30 a.m. until the end of the Marathon.  There will be no vehicle access to the DECC from Lake Avenue.

DOWNTOWN PARKING

On-street and ramp parking will be available along Superior Street from 6th Avenue East to Lake Avenue and along 1^st Street.

Michigan Street, from 4^th Avenue East to 5^th Avenue West, will close to traffic during the Marathon.  No on-street parking will be allowed on Michigan Street.

Motorists who park in Michigan Street parking ramps prior to the road closure will not be able to exit the ramp until the Marathon ends Saturday afternoon.

Opportunities to view runners downtown will exist on the avenues above Michigan Street, Lake Place Park, Lake Avenue, and west of Lake Avenue on Michigan Street.

BUS ROUTES:

Eastbound Routes 6 and 7 “From Downtown” will take Superior Street to 3^rd Avenue East, to 4^th Street, to 10^th Avenue East, to 2^nd Street, to 14^th Avenue East, to Superior Street, to 20^th Avenue East, to 1^st Street, to 21^st Avenue East, to Superior Street and back to regular routing.

Westbound Routes 6 and 7 “To Downtown” will use regular route to 21^st Avenue East the take 21^st Avenue East to 1^st Street, to 20^th Avenue East, to Superior Street, to 14^th Avenue East, to 3^rd Street, to 3^rd Avenue East, to Superior Street and back to regular routing.

The Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) will be open, but no buses will be serving it during the Marathon. Passengers are directed to board and alight buses along Superior Street during this time.

The Port Town Trolley will not provide service until Michigan Street and 5^th Avenue West reopen.

Jefferson Lines will use the parking lot adjacent to the M&H Gas Station in the 1200 block of West Michigan St. for passenger embarking and disembarking.

BE ALERT!

Motorists in Duluth should be prepared to encounter high traffic volume and temporary delays throughout the Marathon weekend.  Drivers in the Canal Park and DECC areas will encounter long delays Friday evening and Saturday. 

Please be alert and drive safely.

Questions regarding this traffic notice can be directed to Officer Dave Decker, Duluth Police Department Traffic Division, 218 730-5736

###