Road closures on March 16 for St. Patrick's Day Run Fest & Street Festival
Weather permitting, on Saturday, March 16, the St. Patrick’s Day Run Fest event will be held on the streets of Hagerstown.
The event consists of 5K and 8K races that begin and end near The Maryland Theatre on South Potomac Street.
The 5K racecourse is a single loop on South Potomac Street, West Memorial Boulevard, Surrey Avenue, Virginia Avenue, City Park Drive, Highland Way, Key Street, South Walnut Street, West Antietam Street, Summit Avenue and West Washington Street.
The 8K course is the same as the 5K course, except that it includes a 3-kilometer loop through Rose Hill Cemetery.
A traffic control plan will be implemented on Saturday morning:
7:30 a.m. — South Potomac Street will be closed to all traffic between Washington Street and Baltimore Street. The right through lane of West Washington Street will be closed to traffic at Summit Avenue; the left through lane will remain open to traffic.
8:30 a.m. — Antietam Street will be closed to all traffic between South Burhans Boulevard and Walnut Street, and Walnut Street will be closed to all traffic between Washington Street and Park Circle.
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Cones will be placed on Memorial Boulevard between Surrey Avenue and South Potomac Street to create a lane for the runners, and vehicular traffic will be restricted to one-way.
The 8K race begins at 9 a.m. Traffic will be stopped on the other race route streets to clear the course.
10:25 a.m. — Traffic on West Washington Street will be temporarily stopped at Summit Avenue to allow 5K racers to assemble at the starting line near the Public Square.
10:30 a.m. — The 5K race begins. Once all runners have passed the starting line, traffic will be allowed to flow in the left-hand through lane of West Washington Street.
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Police officers, auxiliary police and race marshals will be stationed at all of the street intersections around the route to direct traffic during the race.
Motorists approaching the race route should be aware that traffic may be temporarily halted at the various intersections to allow runners to pass by.
It is anticipated that all runners will complete the races by 11:30 a.m., at which time all of the affected streets will be reopened to full traffic flow except for the first block of South Potomac Street, which will remain closed until approximately 2:30 p.m. for the St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival event.
Emergency vehicles will be able to pass through the street closures during the race; however, dispatchers should be aware that traffic might be congested on streets near the race route.
For more information, contact the city of Hagerstown's Engineering Department at 301-739-8577, extension 125.
The St. Patrick's Day Run Fest will begin Saturday at 8:45 a.m. The event is for all ages, in honor of Dan McDougal M.D.
There will be four running events, including Clover Kids Run, One Mile Run/Walk, 5K Run/Walk and the 8K Run. Walk-up registration will be available. Fees are $15 or $25. Proceeds benefit the Washington County Community Free Clinic.
There will be an after party with live music by Poor Man's Gambit, a costume contest, a river dance dance-off, and a bounce house. Green cups will be sold at the Downtown Hagerstown table and drink specials will be available at South Potomac Street bars and restaurants. ACTs Live Pitt Band along with Tony Award Winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia and some of the cast of ACT will present the Green Day's American Idiot The Musical.
For more information, go to www.mainstreethagerstown.org/stpatricksday-hagerstown or call the Washington County Parks & Recreation Department at 240-313-2812.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: St. Patrick's Day Run Fest & Street Festival to close roads March 16
