Wrightsville Beach lane closures, traffic delays expected from marathon this Saturday
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The annual Wilmington Marathon is happening this Saturday, which will lead to some traffic delays around New Hanover County.
The race begins in Wrightsville Beach, with the full marathon carrying 26.2 miles over into Wilmington. Around 3,500 people are expected to take part.
Normal traffic flow on Wrightsville Beach will be disrupted between 4:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. to accommodate the athletes.
The following areas on Wrightsville Beach will be affected:
Athletes will be shuttled to the intersection of N. Lumina and E. Salisbury Street via Causeway Drive where they will exit the shuttle and gather at the race start on the north side of East Salisbury Street to begin the race at 6:30 a.m. This area will be closed to vehicle parking Saturday, February 24, 3:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
Southbound N. Lumina Avenue between Salisbury Street and the Causeway Drive/Waynick Blvd intersection will be closed from about 5:45 a.m. to 6:50 a.m. Residents and businesses traveling north may experience a considerable delay passing through this area during this timeframe. Therefore, it is suggested that if you need to leave your home or place of business, please plan to do so before 5:45 a.m. or after 6:50 a.m.
Causeway Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5:45 a.m. to 7:20 a.m. with vehicles being diverted to Salisbury Street. The outside eastbound lane of Causeway Drive over the Heide Trask Drawbridge will be closed to vehicle traffic.
The Wrightsville Beach Police Department will have officers directing traffic where needed. Normal traffic flow is scheduled to resume by 7:30 a.m.
Traffic will then begin to be impacted in Wilmington.
Here’s a list of associated road and lane closures surrounding downtown:
- Southbound Front St between 3rd St & Red Cross St
- Red Cross St between Front St & Water St
- Water St between Red Cross St & Walnut St
- Northbound lane of Water St between Walnut St & Chestnut St
- Water St between Chestnut St & Princess St
- Princess St between Front St & Water St (access to Water St Center Parking lot via Princess St & Front St (controlled)
- Southbound Front St between Princess St & Dawson St
- Southbound Front St between 3rd St & Dawson St (cross streets of, Nun, Ann, Orange, Dock, Market, Princess Chestnut, Grace, Walnut, Hanover, Brunswick, Harnett & Cowan St open to vehicular traffic with controlled crossing by WPD and Event volunteers)
- Westbound Orange St between Front St & Water St
- Church St at Front St
- Queen St at Front St
- Northbound Front St between Burnett Blvd/Carolina Beach Rd and Dawson St
- Front St on ramp to Cape Fear Memorial Bridge/westbound Hwy 74/76
- Greenfield St between Front St & 5th St/Lakeshore Dr (eastbound lane open for resident/business access to Front St residents/businesses on Greenfield/2nd St)
- Lane closure – Inside lane of Lakeshore Dr, from 5th Ave to Woodland Ave – no vehicular traffic clockwise around Greenfield Lake
For a complete guide to the marathon, click HERE.
