Golden Gate Bridge traffic delays expected
during San Francisco marathon

By Brigid Gaffikin, Bay City News Service

July 29, 2006

Competitors in Sunday's San Francisco Marathon will head across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County over the course of the race, and traffic delays are expected, according to Mary Currie, public affairs director for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation district.

Runners will be crossing the bridge from around 6 a.m. through 9 a.m. and delays near the bridge are likely until around 10 a.m., according to Currie.

Marathoners will occupy two northbound lanes with a third buffer lane set up between runners and traffic. Two southbound lanes and one northbound lane will be in operation until around 10 a.m., after which all lanes will re-open.

Other road closures and lane changes are also planned, Currie reported.

The Presidio will be closed to bridge traffic from midnight tonight through 10 a.m. Sunday.

From 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., northbound Doyle Drive and northbound 19th Avenue will also be reduced to one northbound lane.

Between 4:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., closures include Lincoln Boulevard between the 25th Avenue gate and Lendrum Court, Crissy Field Avenue and Mason Street from the Marina gate to Crissy Field Avenue. Baker Beach residents can access the area via the service road from Battery Caulfield, according to Currie.

Additionally, exits, parking, pedestrian and transit access near and on the bridge will be impacted by the race, according to Currie.

- The last northbound San Francisco exit, off Doyle Drive, and the Vista Point exit will be closed between midnight Saturday and 10 a.m.

- The southeast and Vista Point parking lots will be closed from
midnight through 10 a.m. and the northwest parking lot off Conzelman Road
will be closed from 3 a.m. through 10 a.m.

- Pedestrians will be able to access the eastern sidewalk from 5 a.m. but are advised not to use the sidewalk until 10 a.m., because parking and exits will be closed.

- Buses will not stop at the Golden Gate Transit northbound bus stop on the eastern side of the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza between 1:15 a.m. and 10 a.m. and San Francisco Municipal Railway buses will not run through the southeast parking lot between midnight Saturday and 10 a.m.

The marathon begins at the San Francisco Ferry Building with competitors heading along the Embarcadero, skirting the northern rim of the city and then across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County. Runners then head back across the bridge, through the Presidio and then pass through

Golden Gate Park and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, before heading for AT&T Park and the finish line near the Ferry Building.

More information about the marathon is available at the Web site http://www.runsfm.com.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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