Thousands of runners are expected to take to the streets this weekend for the annual Essar Chester Half Marathon.
The event takes place on Sunday (May 19) and Cestrians are invited to come out and support the runners and add to the buzzing race day atmosphere.
Much of Chester city centre will be closed off to accommodate the 13.1 mile half marathon, which winds through the city streets and out to the countryside.
Chris Hulse, joint organiser of the event, said: "This coming Sunday will see us showing off the best that Chester has to offer and that includes the people of our city themselves.”
“Thousands of runners will head out from the racecourse at 9am to wind through the city taking in the Watergate, the Rows and Cathedral before venturing out into the countryside via the Northgate.”
While the elite runners will finish the race in just over an hour, the majority of the runners will take up to two hours and more, providing plenty of opportunity for spectating and high fives.
“Runners come from far and wide to participate in our award-winning half marathon, joining an impressive local contingent,” added Chris. “We have a fantastic finish area outside the Town Hall, which produces an atmosphere that is second to none.
"Besides giving much appreciated support to the runners heading down Northgate Street, the spectators undoubtedly share their triumph at completing the 13.1 mile challenge.”
The event is expected to raise more than £500,000 for charity, with Northern Lights the official race charity.
What roads will be closed for Chester Half Marathon?
The following lengths of road will be closed at 5.30am for an anticipated duration of eight and a half hours:
- Northgate Street – Hunter Street to Eastgate Street
- St Werburgh Street – Northgate Street to Eastgate Street
- Eastgate Street – Northgate Street to The Eastgate
- Foregate Street – The Eastgate to St John Street
- St John Street – Foregate Street to Little St John Street
The following length of road will be closed southbound at 7.30am for an anticipated duration of two and a half hours:
- Watergate Street – Nicholas Street/St Martin’s Way to City Walls Road/Nuns Road
- New Crane Street – City Walls Road/Nuns Road to Chester Racecourse Entrance
The following lengths of road will be closed at 7.30am for an anticipated duration of two and a half hours:
- Nuns Road – Black Friars to New Crane Street / Watergate Street
- City Walls Road – Stanley Place to New Crane Street / Watergate Street
The following lengths of road will be closed at 7.30am for an anticipated duration of five and a half hours:
- Raymond Street – Canal Street to Bouverie Street
- Cheyney Road – Stadium Way to Parkgate Road
- Bouverie Street – Cheyney Road to Garden Lane/Raymond Street
- Walpole Street – Parkgate Road to Bouverie Street
- Garden Lane – Cheyney Road to Canal Street
- Canal Street – Raymond Street to Upper Northgate Street
- Upper Northgate Street – Canal Street to The Northgate
- Northgate Street – The Northgate to Hunter Street
- Saughall Road - Cheyney Road to Deva Link
- Stadium Way - Whipcord Lane to Saughall Road
The following lengths of road will be closed at 8am for an anticipated duration of two hours:
- Bridge Street – Grosvenor Street to Watergate Street
- Watergate Street – Bridge Street to Nicholas Street/St Martin’s Way
The following lengths of road will be closed at 8.30am for an anticipated duration of four and a half hours:
- Old Parkgate Road – Parkgate Road to Townfield Lane
- Blacon Avenue – A point immediately east of West Cheshire Custody Facility to Countess Way Roundabout
- Parkgate Road (Northbound) – Walpole Street to Countess Way Roundabout
- Parkgate Road - Countess Way Roundabout to the A550 Welsh Road
- Countess Way - (Eastbound) Parkgate Road to Countess Court
- A5117 from Parkgate Road to Dunkirk Roundabout
The following lengths of road will be closed at 8.30am for an anticipated duration of five hours:
- Deva Link – Saughall Road to Countess Way Roundabout
The following lengths of road will be closed at 8.45am for an anticipated duration of one hour:
- Grosvenor Street - Grosvenor Roundabout to Bridge Street
- Grosvenor Road (Northbound) - Overleigh Roundabout to Grosvenor Roundabout
The following lengths of road will be closed at 8.55am or an anticipated duration of 35 minutes
- New Crane Street - Immediately outside the entrance to Chester Racecourse to Nuns Road
- Watergate Street – Nicholas Street/St Martin’s Way to City Walls Road/Nuns Road
The following length of road will be closed at 9am for an anticipated duration of 30 minutes:
- Nicholas Street (northbound) at its junction with Watergate Street
- St Martin's Way/Nicholas Street (southbound) - Watergate Street to Grosvenor Roundabout
The following lengths of road will be closed at 9.15am for an anticipated duration of two and a half hours:
- Woodbank Lane – The A550 Welsh Road to Parkgate Road
- Lodge Lane – Woodbank Lane to Church Road
- Church Road – Fiddlers Lane to Newcroft
- Fiddlers Lane – Long Lane to Parkgate Road
This order will suspend the the one way order on Hunters Walk from Hunters Walk to Princess Street.
The order will also:
- Prohibit loading and unloading at 5.30am for a maximum duration of eight and a half hours on Upper NorthgateStreet/Northgate Street between its junctions with Canal Street and St Werburgh Street
- Prohibit waiting at 6am for a maximum duration of six and a half hours on Garden Lane (west side) - from a point five metres south of the party wall of Nos 51/53 Garden Lane for a distance of 10 metres in anortherly direction
- Prohibit parking and suspend disabled parking on St Werburgh Street for its entire length
Alternative routes for traffic
- Traffic diverted from Parkgate Road (Welsh Road to Countess Way section) should proceed via A550 Welsh Road, A41 Chester Road/Liverpool Road and A5116 Liverpool Road.
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Traffic diverted from A494 (west) should proceed via A548 and A550 Welsh Road to join the diversion route shown immediately above
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Traffic diverted from Parkgate Road (Walpole Street to Countess Way section) should proceed via A5116 Liverpool Road and Countess Way
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Traffic diverted at Overleigh Roundabout should proceed via Overleigh Road, Handbridge, Lower Bridge Street, Pepper Street, Vicar Lane, Love Street and use A5268 St Oswalds Way and in reverse for traffic diverted at Bridge Street.
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