Runners get ready -- the Christchurch Airport Marathon is less than two months away with proposed changes to the central city course.
Come June 5, thousands will be lining up to take part in the event 30 minutes earlier at the proposed start and finish line in Cathedral Square.
Runners will loop around Hagley Park, and then head out east before returning to the city to cross the finish line.
The marathon returned to the central city last year for the first time since the earthquakes. However, heavy traffic congestion caused access issues for the hospital and emergency services, as well as traffic delays.
"The traffic issues during the marathon last year were unacceptable," says Christchurch Transport Operations Centre (CTOC) manager Ryan Cooney.
"We are committed to making this year's event a great experience for people taking part and their supporters, as well as minimising disruption for businesses, residents and people coming into the centre of town."
Marathon organisers and CTOC have been working closely with Canterbury District Health Board.
Environment Canterbury and other central city stakeholders to come up with a revised traffic management plan.
Changes this year will mean access it retained to the hospital and an operations centre including emergency services, event and traffic operations will be established.
Traffic will be diverted onto alternative roads and not allowed to cross the marathon route, with Montreal and Durham Streets open from 10am. The revised start time of 6am is to reduce impact on peak traffic later in the day.
Organisers say motorists should add an extra 10 or 20 minutes to their journey if trying to get across the central city earlier in the day and an extra 30 minutes later in the day.
"This is a major sporting event going through a central city area, so there will always be a level of disruption," Mr Cooney says.
"We do need motorists to be aware of this and all the transport options then plan their trips accordingly on the day."
Submissions around the proposed route and traffic impacts will open tomorrow and close on April 28.
Newshub.
