The streets of downtown West Palm Beach will echo with the rhythmic pounding of runners' sneakers rather than the usual traffic hum this coming weekend. The West Palm Beach Police Department has issued a traffic advisory warning residents and visitors alike to prepare for sizeable delays due to the Palm Beaches Marathon event scheduled for December 13 and 14. Detours and patience will be the orders of the day, as several main thoroughfares will be off-limits to regular vehicular flow.
Beginning at the strike of 10 a.m. on Friday, December 12, the commencement of road closures will take effect, with the disruptions persisting until the early hours of Monday. Those venturing to or from the Town of Palm Beach should anticipate, delays and may wish to opt for the Southern Boulevard Bridge or the Royal Park Bridge (Okeechobee Bridge) as viable alternatives to their usual routes.
Specific closures include stretches of Flagler Dr. from Banyan Blvd. down to Lakeview Ave. starting on Friday, expanding through sections between Lakeview Blvd. and Southern Blvd., as well as Washington Rd. linked with Avila Rd. to Southern Blvd. over the weekend. The local authorities will be managing the situation, with roads reopening progressively as race participants cross through each segment of the course. According to the advisory posted on the City of West Palm Beach website, a full return to traffic normalcy, especially on Flagler Drive between Banyan Blvd. and Lakeview Ave., should be expected by Monday 7 a.m.
