THE STREETS of Reading will soon be full of a Sunday morning traffic, but not from cars: it will be runners taking part in the annual Reading Half Marathon.
The annual event will return on Sunday, April 14, and see thousands of runners take part, ranging from elite athletes to those in fancy dress.
There are two events: the traditional 13.1-mile course, which culminates in a sprint finish at the Select Car Leasing Stadium-home of the Royals.
The shorter Green Park Challenge will allow all ages to take part.
The runners will depart from Green Park at 10.15am, then go on a route around the town, taking in Whitley, the university campus, the town centre, Prospect Park and then down the A33 towards the finish line in the football stadium.
Residents are being warned not be caught out by the rolling road closures which will affect the route on the day and to allow extra time for any journeys.
Roads can be closed at any point between 7am and 4pm and diversion routes will be in effect. Closures will be lifted as soon as all runners have passed through and when it is safe to do so. All roads are expected to re-open by 4pm.
On race day itself, there will be around 700 volunteers staffing the route without whom the race could not happen.
The Reading Half Marathon 2024 is hosted by Goldline Events.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for culture and leisure, said: “The Reading Half is always a fantastic day in the calendar which allows us to show off everything our wonderful town has to offer to the many thousands of runners and other visitors who descend here.
“I’m sure that, as is usually the case, many hundreds of residents will again be lining the streets, cheering on the pack of runners and creating a special atmosphere which plays such a big role in helping participants reach the finish line, no matter how exhausted they may be.”
She added: “We want everyone to enjoy their Sunday however and, as usual, we would advise residents to plan ahead and familiarise themselves with the list of rolling road closures which will be in operation throughout the day.
“There will again be a residents’ helpline available on the day.”
Full details of all routes and roads affected are at www.reading.gov.uk/halfmarathon, www.readinghalfmarathon.com or call the residents’ helpline on 0118 937 2771.
ROAD CLOSURES
The following roads can be closed at any point between 7am and 3pm, but as a guideline the closures will go on at the times stated below and will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so. Diversion routes will be in effect and people are encouraged to allow extra time for journeys.
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A33 (southbound) 9.45am-11.30am entire Bennet Rd gyratory system
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Bennet Road 9.50am-3pm entire length
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Basingstoke Road 9.50am-11.25am between Imperial Way & Callington Road
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Island Road 9.30am-2.35pm entire length
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Hartland Road 9.30am-11.40am entire length
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Whitley Wood Road 9.30am-noon between Hartland Road & Shinfield Road
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Shinfield Road 9.30am-12.30pm between Whitley Wood Road & Christchurch Road
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Pepper Lane 9.30am-12.30pm entire length
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Christchurch Road 9.30am-12.30pm entire length
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Kendrick Road 8.30am-1pm entire length
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London Road 9.45am-12.40pm between Sidmouth Street & Crown Street
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London Street 9am-12.40pm entire length
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Mill Lane (north & southbound) 7am-12.40pm entire length
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Duke Street 9.30am-12.40pm entire length
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Thorn Lane 9.30am-12.40pm entire length
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Yield Hall Place 9.30am-12.40pm entire length
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Minster Street 9.30am-12.40pm entire length
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Gun Street 9.30am-12.40pm entire length
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King Street 9.30am-12.40pm entire length
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King’s Road 9.30am-12.40pm between Abbey Street and King Street
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High Street 9.30am-12.40pm open for exit onto Kings Road
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Abbey Square 9.30am-12.45pm entire length
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Abbey Street 9.30am-12.45pm entire length
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Abbots Walk 9.30am-12.45pm entire length
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The Forbury 9.30am-12.45pm entire length
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Butter Market 9.30am-12.45pm entire length
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Market Place 9.30am-12.45pm entire length
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Valpy Street 9.30am-12.45pm entire length
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Blagrave Street 9.30am-12.45pm between Valpy Street and Friar Street
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Friar Street 9am-12.50pm between Blagrave Street and West Street
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Station Road 9.30am-12.50pm entire length
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West Street 9am-12.50pm entire length
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Oxford Road 9.30am-1.05pm between West Street and Bedford Road (restricted access from 9am)
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Russell Street 9.30am-1pm entire length
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Tilehurst Road 9.30am-1.15pm between Russell Street and Liebenrood Road
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Liebenrood Road 9.30am-2pm entire length
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Bath Road 9am-1.50pm between Circuit Lane and Coley Avenue
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Castle Hill 9am-1.50pm entire length
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Coley Avenue 9.30am-1.40pm between Bath Road and Berkeley Avenue
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Traffic lights all stop when lead is approaching Coley Avenue for elite wheelchair
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Berkeley Avenue 9.30am-1.55pm between Elgar Road and Shaw Road
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Rose Kiln Lane (northbound) 9.30am-1.55pm between Berkeley Avenue and junction with A33
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A33 (northbound) 9.30am-3pm between Bennet Road and IDR
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Lindisfarne Way 9.45am-11.30am westbound-no access to A33
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Longwater Avenue 6am-3pm entire length
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Brook Drive 6am-3pm entire length
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Northern Way 6am-4pm entire length
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Hoops Way 6am-4pm entire length
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Shooters Way 6am-4pm entire length
Main arterial routes in the town centre will remain open:
North: A4074 Woodcote Rd to A4155 to IDR and A4155 Henley Rd to IDR. East: J10-A329 Wokingham Rd-London Rd-Sidmouth St-Queen’s Rd-IDR. West: J12-Bath Rd-Honey End Lane-Tilehurst Rd-Water Rd & Grovelands Rd-Oxford Rd-Chatham St-IDR.
Access from the South will be restricted as runners get underway. Visitors travelling into Reading on the M4 are advised to use junctions 10 and 12 until 2pm to avoid delays.
Access to Hospitals: Royal Berkshire Hospital: Access from London Road; Berkshire Independent Hospital: access from Bath Rd/Berkeley Avenue; Dunedin Hospital: access from IDR-Castle Hill-Bath Rd access lane (allow for delay). Circle Hospital: access via Basingstoke Rd and Manor Farm Road.
All Town Centre car parks will open as normal, apart from Oracle Riverside, which will open at 12.40pm-use Oracle Holy Brook.
The Household Waste Recycling Centre and access to Link Retail Park will open around 2.30pm
