ST. GEORGE — Nearly 7,500 people are expected to take part in the 47th St. George Marathon and half marathon this year. Accompanying them will be an army of race officials and volunteers and the inevitable road closures and traffic impacts.
Participants in the 26.2-mile marathon start in Central and head south down state Route 18 until they enter St. George and make their way down Diagonal Street to 300 West. Racers then move through downtown until they reach the finish line at Vernon Worthen Park. From start to finish, the course descends nearly 2,600 feet.
While race day is set for this Saturday, impacts will begin to be felt on Thursday as a segment of 300 South between 300 East and 400 East by Vernon Worthen Park is closed to traffic starting at 7 a.m.
Additional downtown road closures will happen on Friday at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Road closures on Friday, Oct. 6
| 7 a.m. | 300 South, from 200 East to 300 East, and 300 East, from 200 South to 400 South. |
| 5 p.m. | 400 East, from 100 South to 300 South. |
On race day, Saturday drivers can expect major delays as the majority of the course is closed throughout the duration of the race on Saturday, according to a press release for the city of St. George.
“Please obey all traffic and parking laws, officers, and volunteers as they direct traffic,” the press release states. “In addition to vehicle traffic, cyclists are restricted to the trail along the route.”
Road closures on Saturday, Oct. 7
| 3 a.m. | Westbound traffic on 300 South from 400 East to 500 East. |
| 6 a.m. | All streets accessing the race route from SR-18 in Central to Diagonal Street through 200 East. |
| 6 a.m. | SR-18 northbound travel lanes from Sunset Blvd to Red Hills Parkway. Travelers who wish to reach Snow Canyon Parkway must detour west on Sunset and north on 1400 West. |
| 6 a.m. | SR-18 at the Snow Canyon Parkway and Red Hills Parkway intersection. Traffic from The Ledges will have two-way access during the race to and from Snow Canyon Parkway. Traffic from Diamond Valley will have one-way access (via pilot car) to and from the Ledges as local traffic only. |
| 6:30 a.m. | St. George Boulevard at 300 West. |
| 6:30 a.m.: | Main Street at 100 South. |
| 1:30-2 p.m. | Removal of all traffic controls at the conclusion of the event. |
Notes for downtown closures on race day
East-West traffic through downtown is restricted to roads on 400 South and further south. Residents are encouraged to use 700 South and other alternate routes that avoid the downtown area altogether.
Traffic on the northeast side of Diagonal Street is restricted to local traffic only, and there is no outlet on the northwest end of Diagonal. Residents should leave the area eastbound on 500 North. Residents have restricted two-way access along the north shoulder of Diagonal from 630 West to 500 North.
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