MANCHESTER, Connecticut — The Manchester Road Race (MRR) committee announced the road restrictions and closures people can expect on race day.
The race takes place on Nov. 28, Thanksgiving, at 10 a.m. It's a 4.737-mile loop course over central Manchester streets that starts and finishes on Main Street in front of St. James Church. Street closures and parking restrictions will occur before the race begins and will continue until it ends.
The Manchester Police Department said that no on-street parking will be allowed on East Center Street from Lenox Street to Center Street during the overnight period from 11:59 p.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Thursday.
During the same period, no parking will be allowed on Main Street from Center Street to Hartford Road. Vehicles will be towed if necessary.
Downtown Main Street will be closed to all traffic between Bissell Street and Maple Street beginning at 5 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning to allow crews to put up fencing and ropes along the roadway. At 5:30 a.m., the closures will be extended from East Center Street to Charter Oak Street.
Exit ramps on Interstate 384 that abut the MRR course will be closed from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This includes westbound exit 4 (Charter Oak Street), westbound exit 5 (Highland Street), eastbound exit 4 (Main Street) and eastbound exit 5 )Wyllys Street). No parking is allowed along the shoulders of I-384.
All of the local Manchester roads that intersect the MRR course will be closed at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving as well. Vehicles will not be allowed to enter or leave the interior of the course from 9 a.m. until the race has ended at around 11:390 a.m.
While private vehicles cannot enter or exit the interior of the course, town officials said fire, police and other emergency medical services will not be impacted and will still be available to the residents of Manchester.
President of the MRR Committee, Dr. Tris Carta, said that race organizers are cooperating with the Manchester Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and local officials to plan for the race and all related traffic issues.
“We want to alert everyone, especially the residents who live within the interior of the racecourse, about the street closures so they can make their plans for the holiday,” Carta said. "If you live in that area and need to travel on Thanksgiving morning, please be sure to leave before the roads close to traffic at 9 a.m.”
Carta said that due to the traffic expended Thanksgiving morning for the race, the committee will again offer free shuttle bus rides to and from the event. The buses will run from the Connecticut Community College at Manchester (formerly Manchester Community College) parking lot before the race and return there after the event ends.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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