Motorists in Duluth and the surrounding communities should be prepared for high traffic volume and temporary, but potentially signficant, delays throughout race weekend.
Please be alert and drive safely.
Monday, June 17
PARKING LOT CLOSURE
The Northwest Iron Lot will close for race setup and equipment deliveries and remain closed until after the race.. A limited amount of public parking will be available Tuesday, June 18 through Thursday, June 20 only.
Wednesday, June 19
PARKING LOT CLOSURE
The Lake City Lot will close for race setup and equipment deliveries and remain closed until after the race.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Crews will be installing a temporary pedestrian bridge over Canal Park Drive, just south of Buchanan Street, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The road will remain open, but motorists should expect short delays during this time. Bridge construction will be completed buy mid-afternoon on Thursday June 20.
Friday, June 21
PARKING LOT CLOSURE
The Lighthouse Lot will close for race setup and equipment deliveries and remain closed until after the race.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY
At 6:00 a.m., Canal Park Drive between Railroad Street and Buchanan Street will closed to most traffic to allow for Grandma’s Marathon finish line set up. Hotel guests will have limited use of the road to access their hotels along Canal Park Drive on Friday. Traffic accessing locations south of Buchanan Street should use S. Lake Avenue instead of Canal Park Drive.
Canal Park Drive will remain closed to traffic until after the race, late on Saturday, June 22.
WILLIAM A. IRVIN 5K
The William A 5K will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, and the race will have the following effects on traffic and parking in and around Canal Park:
- Harbor Drive — behind the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) — will be closed to traffic and pedestrian access due to construction.
- Portions of Railroad Street will close at 5:30 p.m. for the duration of the race. Motorists should expect delays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. between Lake Avenue and 5th Avenue West.
- The Great Lakes Aquarium parking lot will not be accessible from 5:30 p.m. until approximately 7:15 p.m.
- The Pier B Resort and Bayfront Festival Park parking lots can be only be accessed ONLY from the west on Railroad Street between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Motorists should watch for “No Parking” signs, barricades, and officers directing traffic when driving in the area of this event. Most traffic should return to normal by 7:30 p.m.
ACCESS TO THE DECC
- Motorists can access the DECC parking lot via the North Gate during the entire event and via the East Gate until 5:15 p.m. NOTE: The East Gate will become INBOUND ONLY starting at 4:00 p.m. before closing completely from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Vehicles on I35 North using the 5th Avenue West exit can either continue straight to Lake Avenue or turn right onto 5th Avenue West to access the DECC parking ramp.
LEAVING THE DECC
- Motorists can leave the DECC parking ramp during the entire event via the North & West Gates, as well as the parking ramp exit. After 6:30 p.m., motorists will also be able to exit via the East Gate.
Saturday, June 22
ROAD CLOSURES
The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon will begin at 6:00 a.m. and Grandma’s Marathon will begin at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 22. Those races will have the following effects on traffic and parking in and around Duluth, including up the North Shore:
- Scenic Highway 61, between McQuade Road and Ryan Road, will close at 3:45 a.m. for half marathon start line setup.
- All of Scenic Highway 61, along Lake Superior between Duluth to Two Harbors, will close to traffic at 4:15 a.m.
Motorists should slow down and be alert to special signing and lane closures on the MN-61 Expressway just south of Two Harbors starting at 4:15 a.m.
- All access roads between the MN-61 Expressway and Scenic Highway 61 — including Isackson Road, Salakka Road, Central Avenue, Alseth Road, Lakewood Road, Homestead Road, Ryan Road, and McQuade Road — will close at 4:15 a.m.
- Harbor Drive, from the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) East Gate to the Great Lakes Aquarium, will be closed for construction and only open to race participants.
- Most avenues leading to London Road in Duluth will close at 4:30 a.m.
- Starting at 5:30 a.m., the following roads will close to traffic and will remain closed until the end of the races.
- All of London Road
- Superior Street between 12th Avenue East and 5th Avenue West
- Michigan Street between 4th Avenue East and 5th Avenue West
- Commerce Street, Railroad Street, Lake Place Drive, and Canal Park Drive
- The southbound lanes of I-35 between 21st Avenue East and Lake Avenue will close at 4:30 a.m.
- The northbound lanes of I-35 between 26th Avenue East and Mesaba Avenue will close at 5:30 a.m.
- Northbound traffic on I-35 will be diverted up Mesaba Avenue to 2nd Street beginning at 5:30 a.m.
- Westbound traffic on 1st Street will not be able to access Mesaba Avenue and will instead be diverted to Superior Street and I-35 at 6th Avenue West beginning at 5:30 a.m.
I-35 and most other roadways closed for Grandma’s Marathon will reopen by approximately 3:30 p.m.
DETOURS
The following detours will all be in place beginning at 5:30 a.m.:
- EASTBOUND — Traffic will be directed to use 2nd Street from Mesaba Avenue to 21st Avenue East. Traffic will then use 21st Avenue Avenue East to access Superior Street and then continue east on Superior Street.
- WESTBOUND — Traffic will be directed to use Superior Street from the MN-61 Expressway to 21st Avenue East. Traffic will then use 21st Avenue East to access 3rd Street and then continue west to Mesaba Avenue. Additionally, drivers traveling westbound can also use 1st and 4th Streets.
ACCESS
PARK POINT & CANAL PARK
Motorists wanting to access Park Point or the Canal Park area during Grandma’s Marathon on Saturday should use 5th Avenue West and follow signs and officer directions. There will be no motorist access to Park Point or Canal Park via the Lake Avenue-Superior Street intersection during the race.
DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT CONVENTION CENTER (DECC)
Motorists wanting to access the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) or the Bayfront Festival Park area during Grandma’s Marathon should use 5th Avenue West and follow signs and officer directions. Motorists can also use Garfield Avenue from the west to access Railroad Street. There will be no motorist access to the DECC or Bayfront Festival Park via Lake Avenue during the race.
LONDON ROAD
All of London Road will be closed to traffic from 5:30 a.m. until approximately 3:00 p.m. Local residents along London Road can use Superior Street and Jefferson Street to access the avenues above London Road during the race. Spectators may park on these open avenues and side streets and are encouraged to continue using the sides of London Road for watching the race.
DULUTH DEPOT, DULUTH LIBRARY, & GATEWAY TOWERS
Motorists wanting to access the Duluth Depot, the Duluth Library, or Gateway Towers during Grandma’s Marathon should use Superior Street and 6th Avenue West.
PARKING
PARKING IS NOT ALLOWED ON ANY PART OF THE RACECOURSE. Please observe the posted “No Parking” signs. Violators will be ticketed and towed.
CANAL PARK AREA
Motorists wanting to park near Canal Park are encouraged to use the lots at Bayfront Festival Park, the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), the Great Lakes Aquarium, or in downtown Duluth.
Motorists wanting to access the DECC or the Bayfront Festival Park area during Grandma’s Marathon should use 5th Avenue West and follow signs and officer directions. Motorists can also use Garfield Avenue from the west to access Railroad Street. There will be no motorist access to the DECC or Bayfront Festival Park via Lake Avenue during the race.
DOWNTOWN PARKING
On-street and public ramp parking will be available along Superior Street and 1st Street between 6th Avenue East and Lake Avenue.
Michigan Street, between 4th Avenue East and 5th Avenue West, will close to traffic during Grandma’s Marathon. No on-street parking will be allowed on Michigan Street. Motorists will NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT parking ramps along this stretch until the race ends Saturday afternoon.
BUS ROUTES
On race day, Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) buses will use 1st Street in both directions between 6th Avenue West and 3rd Avenue East. Passengers should wait for buses at intersecting avenues along 1st Street.
DTA eastbound Routes 6 and 7 — “From Downtown” — will take 1st Street to 3rd Avenue East, to 2nd Street, to 14th Avenue East, to Superior Street, to 20th Avenue East, to 1st Street, to 21st Avenue East, to Superior Street, and back to regular routing.
DTA westbound Routes 6 and 7 — “To Downtown” — will use regular route to 21st Avenue East, to 1st Street, to 20th Avenue East, to Superior Street, to 14th Avenue East, to 3rd Street, to 3rd Avenue East, to 1st Street to 6th Avenue West.
The Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) will be open, but no buses will serve it during the race. Passengers will be directed to board and deboard along 1st Street during this time.
The Port Town Trolley will not provide regular service until Superior Street and 5th Avenue West reopen at approximately 3:00 p.m. Prior to that, the trolley will shuttle passengers between Canal Park and Bayfront Festival Park.
Jefferson Lines will use the parking lot adjacent to the M&H Gas Station in the 1200 block of West Michigan Street for passenger embarking and disembarking.