Local
Columbus Marathon weekend will reroute buses and close streets across the city
The Oct. 16-18 marathon weekend is expected to draw more than 100,000 people downtown, with closures beginning Friday and course-related traffic restrictions Sunday. COTA says about 18 bus lines and more than 800 stops will be affected Sunday.
Columbus residents can expect street closures and transit changes from Friday through Sunday as the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon and 1/2 Marathon bring runners and spectators to the city.
Organizers expect more than 100,000 people downtown for the weekend’s events. Road restrictions are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and continue until 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. The marathon and half marathon begin at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at North Bank Park, following a 7:25 a.m. start for the wheelchair division.
### Streets around North Bank Park
Long Street will close at 9 a.m. Friday between Hocking Street and Neil Avenue, with the closure lasting through 6 p.m. Sunday. The stretch will temporarily allow inbound traffic from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday for the Jonas Brothers concert at Nationwide Arena and from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday for a Columbus Blue Jackets game.
Several additional closures begin late Friday night and remain in place until 6 p.m. Sunday: Spring Street between West Street and Neil Avenue; Hanover and Cozzins streets, except for local traffic; West Street from Nationwide Boulevard to Marconi Boulevard; and John McConnell Boulevard from New Public Way to Spring Street.
At 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Spring Street from Neil Avenue to Hocking Street will close. Neil Avenue south of Nationwide Boulevard will be reduced to one lane for condominium traffic.
Starting at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, roads along the 26.2-mile marathon and 13.1-mile half-marathon routes will face partial or full rolling closures. Sections are expected to reopen as the first and final runners pass. Spring Street, Long Street and Neil Avenue are scheduled to reopen at 6 p.m.
### COTA service changes
COTA plans downtown detours from about 9 a.m. to noon Saturday for the Jesse Owens 5K. Routes 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 30 and the Zoo Bus will be affected.
On Sunday, 18 services are expected to be rerouted during the morning and early afternoon: routes 1 through 12, 22, 30, 31, 102, CMAX and the Zoo Bus. COTA says Sunday closures begin at 5 a.m., with more than 800 stops temporarily closed across downtown, German Village, Bexley, North Bank, the Arena District, Short North, Victorian Village, Ohio State University, Grandview Heights and Upper Arlington.
COTA’s downtown transfer points will be at Spring and Long streets near Fourth Street. Street supervisors will be available to help riders, and the reroutes are expected to end in mid-afternoon Sunday as the marathon concludes.
The weekend’s other events include a Health and Fitness Expo at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Friday and Saturday, plus Saturday’s Jesse Owens 5K, Jesse Owens 1 Mile and White Castle Kids’ Run, all starting at North Bank Park.