The Portland Marathon will close roads and cause traffic delays along the route on Sunday

Runners take to the streets of Portland early Sunday, Oct. 6, and public transit riders and riders may want to avoid some areas that will be closed to vehicles as new ones take place at this year's Portland Marathon, presented by OHSU Health areas are affected.

Both the marathon and half marathon begin at approximately 7 a.m., but roads, bridges and streets along the route may be closed for several hours before the start of the race.

Organizers emphasize that the race course has been completely changed from previous years to include more Portland neighborhoods and “create an unforgettable experience for runners and residents.”

As a rule of thumb, travelers are not allowed to drive on or cross the roads used for the race until the last runner has passed the location and traffic control devices have been removed. Vehicles will be turned away one block before reaching the route. For a detailed look at local road closures, visit the traffic page here: portlandmarathon.com/traffic.

Most racing activities should be completed around 2:00 p.m. The race begins and ends at Waterfront Park in Portland, 1000 SW Naito Parkway, at the intersection of Salmon Street.

The route travels through the Pearl District, along Southwest Macadam Avenue, over the Sellwood Bridge, through Westmorland and on Southeast Milwaukie Avenue. See map.

Spectators are welcome to line the course to cheer on their favorite runners. However, these areas are closed to spectators:

• Broadway Bridge
• Ross Island Way
• Sellwood Bridge
• McLoughlin Blvd
• Eastbank Esplanade
• Burnside Bridge

Vehicle traffic, cyclists and pedestrians will experience the following delays or closures on the bridges in the area:

• Burnside: One westbound lane will be closed to all motorized vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists for the event.
• Morrison: The pedestrian and cycle path in the south will be closed for the event
• Hawthorne: Westbound traffic cannot exit onto Southwest Main St. until after 1:30 p.m
• Sales wood: The westbound lane will be closed until 10:45 a.m
• Broadway: Closed to all users from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m

If you use public transport on race day, there may be delays on the bus routes that run along the race course. MAX trains can also experience delays, especially in the city center. For race day information, visit TriMet.org/alerts.

Around 8,000 runners took part in the 2023 marathon. With so many people flocking to the city center on Sunday, parking becomes scarce. If you need to travel downtown or many Portland neighborhoods early Sunday, expect delays, limited parking and closed streets.

— Rosemarie Stein/The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

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