The streets of Reading will once again be taken over by thousands of runners when the Unleashed Performance Reading Half Marathon returns on Sunday 2 April.
Participants taking on the 13-mile course range from elite athletes to enthusiastic amateur runners. The half-marathon starts and finishes inside the Select Car Leasing stadium. With a shorter Green Park Challenge taking place alongside the main half marathon.
As usual, there will be a number of road closures around the route of the half marathon, full details of all routes and roads affected can be found on the Reading half marathon webpage.
Participants in the main race are due to gather at Green Park for a 10.15 am start when they will then embark on a route around Reading, taking in the University campus before they make their way into the town centre.
Runners will then travel westwards before heading south to the finishing line via the A33 Relief Road. You can view the full map online.
A series of rolling road closures and diversions will be in place at a variety of times between 7 am and 3 pm. Roads will be re-opened as soon as runners have passed through and it is safe to do so. All roads are expected to be re-opened by 3pm.
Residents and visitors are being asked to plan ahead and allow extra time for any journeys they intend to make on the day.
On race day there will be around 700 people staffing the route who play a vital role in making the race happen. The Council supports this major event by co-ordinating the road closures, running the information point at the stadium for racegoers and providing the residents’ hotline.
For up-to-date information and full details of all affected roads please visit 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.
The 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 Smallmead Recycling Centre will open at 3pm.