Thousands Ready To 'Run The Bridge' Sunday For South Jersey Kids

CAMDEN, NJ — Thousands of people will run across the Ben Franklin Bridge on Sunday for an annual race that benefits local children with special needs.

The bridge will close Sunday and several nearby streets will be blocked off beginning at 7 a.m. for the annual Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge, presented by AmeriHealth New Jersey.

The 10K run and two-mile bridge walk benefits the Larc School in Bellmawr, which serves students with developmental disabilities throughout South Jersey. The course begins at the base of the bridge on the New Jersey side.

Cooper University Health Care and the Norcross Foundation are the main organizers of the race, which takes place every year on the first Sunday in November. The event has raised almost $5 million for the school, its executive director said.

Parking and road closures

Parking lots are located on Delaware Avenue and Elm. Other parking is available in the Camden County College's Camden City Campus Parking Garage at 6th and Penn Streets.

Post-event refreshments and the beer garden are located at the Camden athletic fields (301 Linden Street, Camden NJ 08102).

Delaware Avenue and Pearl Street will be closed to traffic beginning at 7 a.m., event organizers said. "To avoid being late or getting shut out of Camden, give yourself plenty of time to get to the parking lots. Leave early."

Race courses and start times

The 10K race, the kids' dash, and the two-mile bridge walk begin at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. There is also a virtual 10K and two-mile walk.

The 10K race course starts at the toll gates on the New Jersey side of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

The two-mile walk is across the bridge, with a turnaround at the mile marker.

10K course

• Start at toll gates on the New Jersey side.
• Run over the bridge on the westbound lanes, turnaround on Philly side at the break in the barriers. TURNAROUND IS ON THE BRIDGE.
• Run back over bridge on eastbound lanes.
• Bear to the right at the base of the bridge and take 2nd right onto Broadway.
• At the light, make a right onto Cooper Street.
• Follow Cooper Street to N. Front Street and make a left onto N. Front Street.
• At corner, turn left onto Market Street.
• Take Market to 3rd Street and turn right onto 3rd.
• Take 3rd Street to Clinton Street and make a right onto Clinton Street.
• Follow Battleship Place around to the Promenade/Brick Walk.
• At the circle by the Battleship, go around then bear off to the paved driveway up the hill to the circle at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and go around the circle onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
• Continue to 3rd Street and turn left onto 3rd Street.
• Take 3rd Street to Federal Street and turn left onto Federal Street.
• Take Federal Street to Delaware Ave and turn right onto Delaware Ave.
• Stay on Delaware Ave.
• The finish line will be on Delaware Avenue near the Camden Athletic Complex.
• You must complete the 10K course in 90 minutes.

Two-mile walk

• Start at the toll gates on the New Jersey side. Line up behind the runners.
• Walk up to the 1-mile marker staying close to the center barrier in the westbound lanes.
• Turnaround at the 1-mile marker now walking close to the water still in the westbound lane but walking back down the bridge toward the New Jersey tolls.
• The Walker Finish Line is where the start took place.
• Walkers must complete the bridge walk in 50 minutes or less.
• Once finished the walk, exit to the left side of the bridge. DO NOT CROSS OVER BARRIER ONTO OTHER SIDE OF BRIDGE.
• Join us back at the Camden Athletic Complex, 401 Penn Street, Camden, NJ 08102.