Berkeley Braces for Traffic Shake-up as Annual Half Marathon Nears

Source: City of Berkeley

As the annual Berkeley Half Marathon approaches on the 19th, it will introduce significant changes to the city's usual traffic and parking. The event will involve street closures, bus route detours, and parking restrictions. Participants and residents are advised to prepare for these changes in order to minimize disruption.

According to the City of Berkeley news announcement, most of the closures will begin at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. Some closures near Civic Center Park will start as early as Saturday afternoon. Residents should take note of temporary "no parking" signs and opt to park outside the designated course area beginning Saturday evening to avoid being ticketed or towed.

Heads up, Berkeley! 📅 If you're biking, driving, or busing through the city on Nov 18-19, be ready for street closures, bus route changes, and parking restrictions due to the @BerkeleyHalf.

🗺️ Use map to plan ahead to avoid any surprises: https://t.co/Cmud9mcu97

1/ pic.twitter.com/1A1JYMK3ao
— City of Berkeley (@CityofBerkeley) November 16, 2023

The Berkeley Half Marathon is a proud tradition that unites a diverse field of athletes. The marathon will start at 7:30 a.m. at Milvia and Kittredge, with 5K and 10K races following at 8:30 a.m. The Finish Line Festivities & Ceremony will take place at Civic Center Park from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This event offers both participation for runners and community engagement for residents.

To prepare for event day, you'll focus on how the event will impact Berkeley's transportation systems. Streets along the course will close at varying times, including certain off-ramps from Hwy. 80, such as Eastbound University Ave., from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. More importantly, driving on the course is strongly discouraged from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., a period during which MLK northbound will be closed at Channing Way.

Residents can find a detailed list of street closures and detour information on the Berkeley Half Marathon website. Given that there will be disrupted bus routes during the marathon, residents relying on public transportation should use ACT RealTime or check the AC Transit Service Notices for updates close to race day.