Road closures in effect for BMO Vancouver Marathon

It's been 45 years since the first Vancouver Marathon was run in the city, now in 2016 the race has grown and attracts the attention of much of the running world.

Runners — with the help of international media — have flocked to Vancouver for the 42.2 kilometre run, now called the BMO Vancouver Marathon, because Vancouver is beautiful in May with scenic views, tree-lined streets and snow-capped mountains. It also doesn't hurt that 70 per cent of the course is along the shoreline.

For 2016, the race will feature a mass start meaning all runners — elites to the last finisher — will head off from the start line in Queen Elizabeth Park all together on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. PT. The finish line is at West Pender Street at Bute Street.

• 80-year-old Boston Marathon champ from B.C. aims big for BMO Vancouver Marathon

Along with the runners, many residents typically line the course, along with 4,000 volunteers, to cheer and watch.

"Spectators are encouraged to dress-up, prepare signs, and animate their neighbourhoods to show our "red mitten" spirit to runners from over 50 countries," said Charlene Krepiakevich, executive director of the Vancouver International Marathon Society in a release.

Along with all the excitement are road closures of course.

The event follows a rolling closure protocol, meaning that roads will close and later re-open as runners pass through the course — no roads are closed for the entire duration of the race, which has a completion time limit of seven hours.

The race has posted the following neighbourhood closure maps on the road closures page of its website:

• Dunbar Road Closure Detour Map
• Cambie North Road Closure Detour Map
• False Creek Road Closure Detour Map
• Cambie South Road Closure Detour Map
• Coal Habour Road Closure Detour Map
• Kitsilano Road Closure Detour Map
• Point Grey Road Closure Detour Map
• UBC Road Closure Detour Map

TransLink will increase Canada Line service to help runners and spectators get to the start line for the marathon. Several bus routes in the race area will also be modified to help with the event.

The following bus routes are affected: 2, 9, 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, 33, 41, 49, 99, 160, 210, 211, 240, 246, C18, C19, C20, C21, and C23.
 
SkyTrain and SeaBus will operate regular Sunday service; there is no Sunday service on the West Coast Express.

"Safety is everyone's top priority, and this investment to our traffic control plan will improve overall safety, improve the race experience aligning with international marathon standards and increase the reputation of Vancouver as a top sports city," said Krepiakevich.

"Our vision is to be the world's best running experience, celebrating all that is Vancouver."