NSW Police is advising motorists and residents of major road closures in Sydney's CBD and Pyrmont ahead of the 30th annual Hoka Runaway Sydney Half Marathon tomorrow.
A high-visibility police operation – comprising officers from the Central Metropolitan Region and specialist units – will be in place for the event to ensure the safety of participants and spectators, with a focus on minimising the impact of the event on the wider community.
The 10km race will commence at 6.30am (Sunday 21 May 2023), at Cathedral Square, College Street, Sydney.
The Half Marathon main event will commence at 7.25am at Cahill Expressway (corner.of Macquarie and Bridge streets); the course covers 21.1km and runs via Macquarie Street, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Millers Point and the Western Distributor to Pyrmont, then returns via the Western Distributor, Sussex St, Hickson Rd, Observatory Hill, the Cahill Expressway overpass, Macquarie St, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
The run finishes on Park Street between Hyde Park North and Hyde Park South by 11.30am.
Operation Sydney Half Marathon 2023 Commander, Acting Superintendent Brett Van Akker, says police have been working with event organisers to ensure the family-friendly event is safe and secure for everybody involved.
"Police will be patrolling the race route in the lead up to, and during, the event to ensure the safety of all participants, spectators and volunteers," Acting Superintendent Brett Van Akker said.
"We strongly encourage the community to use public transport to and from the city, as major road closures will be in place before, and for the duration of the race.
"Roads along the race route in the vicinity of Hyde Park will begin to close from 2am, while the Cahill Expressway Overpass and sections of the Western Distributor will be closed from 4am.
"Some roads through the Sydney CBD, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Millers Point and Pyrmont will also be closed from 4am.
"Anyone who cannot avoid a trip to the city should expect delays, allow for extra travel time and carefully follow detour signs," Acting Superintendent Brett Van Akker said.
All major roads will progressively start to reopen at 11am, with all closures expected to be lifted by 1pm.
While roads are closed, buses will be diverted and using temporary stops. Services may experience delays so allow extra travel time or consider catching a City Circle train instead.
Light Rail services will terminate at Town Hall between 5am and 9am and will not operate between Town Hall and Circular Quay before 9am.
The closest train stations to the start line are St James, Martin Place and Town Hall, with services to operate on a Sunday timetable. For information on transport to the event and to plan your trip, visit www.transportnsw.info
Special-event clearways will be in place between 1.30am and 12.30pm on roads along and surrounding the race route, so check signs before parking as vehicles parked in these clearways will be towed and fines apply.
For detailed information about road closures and clearways, including maps and detour routes, visit www.livetraffic.com.
For more information Hoka Runaway Sydney Half Marathon, visit https://runawaysydneyhalf.com.au/
