The city of Memphis gears up for a significant event, the St. Jude Marathon, an annual gathering that commands the attention and support of the community in aid of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. As reported by Local Memphis, the marathon slated for December 6, is the largest single-day fundraiser for the research hospital, drawing over 22,000 participants and an expected crowd of 30,000 spectators.
With such a burgeoning influx of participants and onlookers, the city's infrastructure is to temporarily adapt, ushering in an assortment of road closures to facilitate the event's proceedings. The marathon route will wend through significant city landmarks, such as Beale Street and Overton Park, necessitating widespread traffic redirection. The Commercial Appeal shares that these closures are slated to begin on December 5 at 6 a.m., with Union Avenue between Danny Thomas Boulevard and B.B. King Boulevard, extending until 5 p.m. the following day.
To aid those navigating through or around the event, Colonel Willie Mathena, commander of MPD’s Traffic Division, recommends the use of the Waze app. "If you log into the Waze app, it will direct you and give you alternate routes to avoid the street closures," Colonel Mathena told Action News 5. The app will provide live updates on the road closures on race day to help locals and visitors effectively circumvent congested areas.
Locals planning to travel around Memphis on marathon day may need to budget extra time for their commutes. Colonel Mathena suggests adding a 30 to 45 minute grace period to ensure timely arrival to destinations. Additionally, according to Local Memphis, a more granular breakdown of road closures, neighborhood impacts, and transportation alternatives can be found on the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend website, offering detailed guidance for both runners and spectators.
Memphis prepares to not only showcase its civic pride but also its collective heart as the marathon brings both challenges and triumphs to the cityscape. It's a weekend of high spirits, with the community united in support of a cause that resonates far beyond the finish line.
