Traffic changes due to Grandma’s Marathon events

By WDIO
Traffic changes for Grandma's Marathon race weekend.

The Duluth Police Department released a list of traffic closures and detours that will be in affect for Grandma’s Marathon weekend. The closures are as follows:

Friday, June 21st, 2024 – WILLIAM A. IRVIN 5K

  • The race will begin at 6:00 p.m.
  • At 5:30 p.m., portions of Railroad Street will close to traffic for the duration of the race.
  • Obey temporary “No Parking” areas on Railroad Street, Lake Place Drive, and Harbor Drive. Violators will be ticketed and towed.
  • Starting at 5:30 p.m., traffic delays will occur for up to two hours as portions of Railroad Street close from Lake Ave. to 5th Ave W. Southbound traffic on 5th Avenue West will be able to access the DECC parking lot via Railroad St. throughout the race.
  • Harbor Drive behind the DECC will be closed to all traffic due to construction and only utilized by race participants.
  • The Aquarium parking lot will not be accessible from 5:30 p.m. until approximately 7:15 p.m.
  • Traffic looking to access Pier B Resort or the Bayfront Park parking lots can only do so from the West between 5:30 – 7:00 PM.
  • Access to the DECC during the race will be through the North Gate (on Railroad Street) (entire event) or the East Gate on Harbor Dr. (until 5:15 PM). Starting at 4:00 PM, the East Gate will become inbound only for traffic from Railroad St, before closing completely from 5:15 – 6:30 PM.
  • Outbound traffic from the DECC can use the North Gate (on Railroad St) and West Gate from 4:00-7:30 p.m., in addition to the Parking Ramp Exit (On Railroad Street). After 6:30 PM traffic will also be able to exit the DECC from the East Gate (5th Ave W).
  • Vehicles on northbound I-35 exiting on the 5th Ave. West off-ramp can either continue straight to Lake Avenue to access the DECC lot or turn right onto 5th Avenue West to access the DECC lot via Railroad St.
  • Most traffic should return to normal by 7:30 p.m.
  • Watch for no parking signs, barricades, and officers directing traffic when driving in the area of this event.

On FRIDAY, JUNE 21st:

  • At 6:00 a.m. on Friday, June 21st, Canal Park Drive from Railroad Street to Buchanan Street will be closed to most traffic to allow for Grandma’s finish line set up. Guests staying in the hotels along Canal Park Drive will have limited use of the road to access their hotels on Friday. Traffic accessing locations S of Buchanan St should use S Lake Ave to Buchanan, not Canal Park Dr.
  • Canal Park Drive will remain closed to automobile traffic until after the Grandma’s Marathon Finish late on Saturday June 22nd.

Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 – GRANDMA’S MARATHON & HALF MARATHON

ROAD CLOSURES:

  • Scenic Highway 61, along Lake Superior from Duluth to Two Harbors, will close to traffic at 4:15 a.m.
  • Scenic Highway 61, between McQuade Road and Ryan Road, will close at 3:45 a.m. for half marathon start set-up.
  • Motorists should slow down and be alert to special signing and lane closures on the Highway 61 Expressway just south of Two Harbors, starting at 4:15 a.m.
  • All access roads between MN-61 Expressway and Scenic Hwy 61, including Isackson Rd, Salakka Rd, Central Ave, Alseth Rd, Lakewood Rd, Homestead Rd, Ryan Rd, and McQuade Rd, will close at 4:15 a.m.
  • Harbor Drive, from the East Gate of the DECC to the Aquarium, will be closed for construction and only open for race events.
  • Most avenues leading to London Road will close at 4:30 a.m.

Starting at 5:30 a.m., the following roads will close to traffic and will remain closed until the end of the Marathon:

  • All of London Road
  • Superior Street from 12th Avenue East to 5th Ave W
  • Michigan Street from 4th Avenue East to 5th Avenue W
  • Commerce Street/Railroad Street, Lake Place Drive, and Canal Park Dr.
  • The southbound lanes of I-35 from 21st and 26th Avenues East will close at 4:30 a.m.
  • The northbound lanes of I-35 will close at 5:30 a.m. from Mesaba Avenue to 26th Avenue East. A detour will guide vehicles to 2nd Street to continue east.
  • Northbound traffic on I-35 will be diverted up Mesaba Avenue to 2nd Street at 5:30 a.m.
  • Westbound traffic on 1st St. will not be able to access Mesaba Avenue and will instead be diverted to Superior St. and I-35 at 6th Ave. W. at 5:30 a.m.
  • Interstate 35 and most other roadways closed for the Marathon will reopen by approximately 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

ACCESS & DETOURS:

Park Point and Canal Park Access:

The only access for motorists wanting to reach Park Point or the Canal Park area during the Marathon on Saturday will be on 5th Ave W from Superior Street. Motorists should follow signs and officer direction. There will be no vehicle access to Park Point or Canal Park from Lake Ave at Superior St.

DECC Access:

Motorists wanting to reach the DECC or Bayfront area during the Marathon on Saturday must use either 5th Ave. W. or Garfield Ave. to Railroad St. There will be no vehicle access to the DECC from Lake Ave.

London Road Access:

All of London Road will close to traffic from 5:30 a.m. until approximately 3:00 p.m. Local residents and spectators along London Road can use Superior St. and Jefferson St. to access the avenues above London Road for parking during the Marathon. Spectators are encouraged to continue using the sides of London Road for watching the race

Depot, Library, and Gateway Tower Access:

The Depot, the Library, and Gateway Towers will be accessible from Superior St. to 6th Ave. W. during Grandma’s Marathon.

The following detours will be in place for I-35 London Road, Superior Street and Michigan Street starting at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday:

Eastbound local streets and northbound I-35 Detour:

Traffic will use 2nd Street from Mesaba Ave. to 21st Avenue East, down 21st Avenue Ave East to Superior Street, and continue east on Superior Street.

Westbound local streets and southbound I-35 Detour:

  • Traffic will use Superior Street from the Highway 61
  • Expressway to 21st Avenue East, proceed north on 21st Avenue East, then continue west on 3rd Street to Mesaba Ave.
  • Drivers traveling westbound can utilize 4th and 1st Street.

PARKING

Parking is not allowed on any part of the race course. Please observe the posted “No Parking” signs. Violators will be ticketed and towed.

Canal Park Area Parking:

Motorists wanting to park near Canal Park are encouraged to use the Bayfront Park Lots, the DECC, the Aquarium lot, or Downtown areas near Lake Avenue. Motorists wanting to reach the DECC or Bayfront area during the Marathon on Saturday must use either 5th Ave. W. or Garfield Ave. to Railroad St. from 5:30 a.m. until the end of the Marathon. There will be no vehicle access to the DECC from Lake Ave.

Downtown Parking

On-street and ramp parking will be available along 1st Street from 6th Avenue East to Lake Avenue.
Michigan Street, from 4th Avenue East to 5th Avenue West, will close to traffic during the Marathon. No on-street parking will be allowed on Michigan St. Motorists who park in Michigan St. parking ramps prior to the road closure will not be able to exit the ramp until the Marathon ends Saturday afternoon.
Opportunities to view runners Downtown will exist on the avenues above Superior Street, Lake Place Park.

Bus Routes:

During the marathon, in the downtown area DTA buses will use 1st Street in both directions between 6th Avenue West and 3rd Avenue East. Passengers should wait for buses at the nearside of intersecting avenues along 1st Street. In addition, Eastbound Routes 6 and 7 “From Downtown” will take 1st Street to 3rd Avenue East, to 2nd Street, to 14th Avenue East, to Superior Street, to 20th Avenue East, to 1st Street, to 21st Avenue East, to Superior Street and back to regular routing.

Westbound Routes 6 and 7 “To Downtown” will use regular route to 21st Avenue East the take 21st Avenue East to 1st Street, to 20th Avenue East, to Superior Street, to 14th Avenue East, to 3rd Street, to 3rd Avenue East, to 1st Street to 6th Avenue West.

The Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) will be open, but no buses will serve it during the Marathon.

Passengers are directed to board and alight buses along 1st Street during this time.

The Port Town Trolley will not provide regular service until Superior Street and 5th Avenue West reopen at approximately 3pm. Prior to that, the trolley will shuttle passengers between Canal Park and Bayfront Park. Jefferson Lines will use the parking lot adjacent to the M&H Gas Station in the 1200 block of West Michigan St. for passenger embarking and disembarking.

More information and stories on Grandma’s Marathon can be found here.