The Big Half Marathon took place on Sunday, September 1, with a total of 18,000 runners starting at 8:20 am from near Tower Bridge towards Canary Wharf. The race, which is entirely held in the Eastern part of the city, resulted in road closures along the track. These closures were expected to last until around 4pm, depending on the progress of the runners. The affected areas included Tower Hamlets, Canary Wharf, Wapping, Rotherhithe, Bermondsey, Deptford, and Greenwich.
The organisers of the Marathon provided a comprehensive list of road closures, complete with 18 vehicle and pedestrian crossing points along the route. The closures were divided into different sections based on the areas affected. Residents and businesses in various areas such as Tower Hamlets, Wapping, Limehouse, Westferry, Canary Wharf, Southwark, Rotherhithe Peninsula, Lewisham, and Greenwich were all impacted by the race route.
For instance, in Tower Hamlets and Wapping, road closures began at 6am and were set to reopen at 2pm. There were four vehicle crossing points in this section, including Vaughan Way, Wapping Lane, Glamis Road, and St Katharine’s Way. The closures in Limehouse, Westferry, and Canary Wharf also lasted from 6am to 2pm, with one vehicle crossing point at Three Colt Street.
In Southwark, closures on Tooley Street and Jamaica Road were in place from 6am to 3pm, with four vehicle crossing points within this section. Rotherhithe Peninsula saw road closures from 6am to 3pm, affecting areas such as Brunel Road, Salter Road, Quebec Way, Canada Street, Surrey Quays Road, and Redriff Road. Lewisham had closures on Lower Road and Evelyn Street lasting from 6am to 3pm, with four vehicle crossing points in this area.
The race ended in Greenwich near Cutty Sark, with road closures on Creek Road lasting from 6am to 4pm. Haddo Street and Roan Street were closed to traffic from 12:30 to 15:30, with parking bays suspended and vehicles relocated. Greenwich Town Centre was closed to traffic from 6am to 4pm, with local bus services maintained on certain routes throughout the day.
Overall, the Big Half Marathon brought about significant road closures and disruptions in various parts of the city to accommodate the runners participating in the event. Residents and businesses in the affected areas were advised to plan their travel accordingly and make necessary adjustments to their schedules on race day.
