New Balance Run Forces Road Detours

Saturday's New Balance Ringling Bridge Run IX will cause some road detours and closures as racers sprint across the bridge and downtown.

The four-mile run starts at 7:30 a.m. Pre-race staging and other activities will be held in the parking lot of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall from 6:30 – 11:00 a.m. 

The following street closures and traffic disruptions will occur Saturday 7 to 9:30 a.m: 

• U.S. 41 from 10^th Street to Gulfstream Avenue will experience slowdowns due to the closure of southbound lanes.  Southbound U.S. 41 traffic at 10^th Street will be diverted into the single median north bound lane on U.S. 41.

The northbound lanes of U.S. 41 from 10^th Street to Gulfstream Avenue will be utilized for a two-way traffic flow plan, one single lane each for north and south traffic in this area.

• The southbound lanes of traffic on U.S. 41 from 10^th Street to Gulfstream Avenue will be utilized by runners and walkers participating in the event.  Vehicular traffic intending to cross to the west side of U.S. 41 in the event area will be accommodated by Sarasota Police Officers when it is safe to do so.

• Those wishing to access the boat ramps at U.S. 41 and 10^th Street should avoid the 10^th Street entrance and preferably utilize the entrance off of southbound U.S. 41, which is north of the 10^th Street area.

• Northbound traffic on the Bayfront, U.S. 41 approaching Gulfstream Avenue will be split into two separate lanes. Northbound U.S. 41 traffic will merge to the right lane entering into the two-way traffic plan from Gulfstream to 10^th Street.

• Beach traffic will merge to the left lane and will enter into a two-way traffic flow plan in the single median eastbound lane of Gulfstream Avenue. Officers will be on hand to direct and assist motorist through this intersection. 

• The westbound lanes of Gulfstream Avenue and John Ringling Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic from U.S. 41 to Bird Key Drive. 

The two west bound lanes in this area will be utilized by runners and walkers participating in the event.  Westbound Gulfstream Avenue/John Ringling traffic from U.S. 41 will be diverted into a single median eastbound lane. 

• A two-way traffic flow plan will be in effect in the eastbound lanes of John Ringling Boulevard from Bird Key Drive to Gulfstream and U.S. 41, one single lane each for east and west traffic in this area. 

• The vehicular entrance to Hart’s Landing via the westbound Saprito Pier drive access will be closed during the above mentioned hours  An officer will be on hand to accommodate both ingress and egress via the eastbound exit from Hart’s on the south side of the causeway.