The Taunton Marathon & Half Marathon is to take place this Sunday (April 2nd) with a new route to follow by an expected 1200 runners.
The following roads will be affected:
Wellington Road
Traffic in both directions will be held by Police for around 10 minutes from 10:25 to allow runners to leave the start line which is at Bridgwater & Taunton College.
Bridge Street, Station Road, Staplegrove Road and Greenway Road
Traffic will be held as the main bulk of 1200 runners go through the town, taking around 20 minutes.
Silk Mills Road
Closed to through traffic from 10:30 to 15:00 in both directions between Netherclay Lane and Bindon Road to allow the runners to come safely out of Netherclay Lane and get across Silk Mills Road.
The road will be open at the Bishops Hull end for two way traffic to Heron Drive, with access to St Margaret’s Hospice, Abbeyfield and Avery Plant Centre. The diversion route through the town will be signed.
The bridge at Bradford-on-Tone
Closed to all traffic from 11:00 to 13:00. The diversion is via Nynehead.
Bishops Hull
Drivers are asked to follow a voluntary one-way system that flows with the runners, down Bishops Hull Hill and Netherclay Lane, but up Waterfield Drive . The exit to Wellington Road from Bishops Hull Road will be closed.
All other roads will be open.
Motorists are asked to be co-operative and patient as any delays will be of a relatively short duration.
THE ROUTE
10.30am Start at Bridgwater & Taunton College, Wellington Road, Castle Street, Tangier Way, Wood Street, Bridge Street, Staplegrove Road, B3227 through Norton Fitwarren to Hillcomon Crossroads, turn right into Oake, carry on through to Bradford-on-Tone.
Turn left at The White Hart and left again onto Hele Road. Run through Hele, Fideoak and Upcott and into Bishops Hull via Shutewater Hill. Turn left into Bishops Hull Road and through the village. Turn left into Netherclay Lane and follow through to Silk Mills Road. Turn right along Silk Mills Road and left into Heron Drive. Enter College Grounds from Heron Drive and then to the Finish at the front of the College. Marathon runners do this twice.
There will be approx 1000 runners doing the Half Marathon and 200 doing the full 26 mile Marathon. The great majority of Half Marathon runners will finish within two hours.