Hartford Marathon Saturday To Impact Traffic In Four Towns

HARTFORD, CT — Saturday morning won't exactly be a walk in the park for motorists in Hartford and three other nearby towns.

But on Saturday, Oct. 19, the day of the 2024 Eversource Hartford Marathon/Half Marathon, it won't be a leisurely stroll for those donning running shoes, either.

One of Connecticut's biggest sporting events — where runners will traverse 26.2 grueling miles of pavement — will feature several road closures and impact traffic in Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford, and South Windsor.

Officials with the Hartford Marathon Foundation, which organizes this event along with smaller road races statewide, said they expect nearly 8,500 runners of varying skill levels to swarm the streets of those four communities.

And, they said, motorists need to be ready and cautious early.

"On race day, road closures and travel delays will begin at 7:30 a.m. and remain throughout the city of Hartford and surrounding towns until 2 p.m.," said organizers. "We appreciate your continuing support and understanding"

The following roads will be impacted:

• Hartford: Asylum Avenue, Asylum Street, Atheneum Square, Broad Street, Buckingham Street, Capitol Avenue, Charter Oak Avenue, Clinton Street, Elm Street, Farmington Avenue, Fern Street, Ford Street, Founders Bridge, Gold Street, Jewell Street, Lafayette Street, Main Street, Market Street, Oxford Street, Pearl Street, Prospect Avenue, Prospect Street, Reverend Moody Overpass, S. Prospect Street, Sheldon Street, State Street, Van Dyke Avenue, Washington Street, Wells Street, West Street, Weston Street, Whitney Street.

• West Hartford: Asylum Avenue, Elizabeth Park, Fern Street, Penn Drive.

• East Hartford: Carroll Road, East River Drive, Main Street, Pitkin Street, Silver Lane Ext., South Prospect Street, Founders Bridge

• South Windsor: King Street, Old Main Street

The event starts near the State Capitol at about 8 a.m., with the race concluding later in the morning near Bushnell Park nearby.

One issue that might cause further traffic issues is the University of Connecticut has a football game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford on Saturday at noon, meaning the marathon will be going on when many tailgaters start arriving for the game.

It was a similar situation a year ago, when the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team played a match there on marathon day.

That game was a sellout, but it also was later in the afternoon than UConn's football game this year, which isn't expected to sell out, making the traffic impacts this year uncertain.

The Hartford Marathon Foundation has an extensive website that includes all event times, maps, road closure details, and other aspects of Saturday's program.

In addition, local police departments have also issued alerts of their own about the marathon impacts via social media.

For more information about the 2024 Hartford Marathon/Half Marathon, click on this link.