Plan ahead to make sure you are on time for the upcoming Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge, which takes place this Sunday 18 August, around Alexandra Park and the outskirts of the CBD, participants are requested to note the road closures so as to avoid traffic congestion on race day.
‘Both distances start at 8am, and we are encouraging everyone to be aware of their routes so as not to miss the start,” says Race Director, Brad Glasspoole.
The start line is near Maritzburg College, both the 10km and 5km events’ routes are “out-and-back” beginning in Princess Margaret Drive and finishing at The Oval, Cricket Stadium. A field of 3,500 is expected, with their supporters. Glasspoole says, ‘We advise participants to leave home early to avoid traffic and request that all take note of the road closure times, so they can get to the start line promptly!’
The road closures and times are as follows:
Sunday, August 18
Balmoral Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11:00
Princess Margaret Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11: 00
Park Drive between Princess Margaret Drive and Princess Elizabeth Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11:00
Princess Elizabeth Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11:00
Park Drive from College Road to Princess Margaret Drive - closed from 07:00 – 11:00
Alexandra Road from Cross Road to Alan Paton Avenue - closed (inbound only) from 07:00 – 10:00
Alan Paton Avenue from Alexandra Road to Burger Street - closed (inbound only) from 07:00 – 08:30
Alexandra Road between Alan Paton Avenue and Jesmond Road – closed in both directions from 07:30 until approximately 08:45
West Street / College Road (away from the CBD) closed from 07:00 till approximately 10:00
Residents in the New Scotland Road area of Pelham will be able to access their residence from Campsdrift Road and egress via College Road towards the CBD between 07:00 and 10:00.
Parking for the event is on the soccer fields off Prince Charles Drive (next to the BMX track) which can be accessed via Alan Paton Avenue / Chief Albert Luthuli Street (near Alexandra Baths) into Park Drive.
Additional Parking will be on the fields adjacent to Kershaw Park Tennis Club off Chief Albert Luthuli Street.
Online entries are closed, but manual entries can still be done at Race Registration on Friday 16 August from 10am to 5pm and on Saturday 17 August from 10am to 3pm at The Oval Cricket Ground, Alexandra Park.
The field is limited to 3,500 participants.
For more info visit the official race on https://sparwomensrace.co.za/maritzburg/
Top image: Participants competing in last year's Maritzburg SPAR Women's Challenge. Please note road closures for this year's event taking place around the Capital on Sunday 18 August.
Photo credit: Rogan Ward