On Monday April 15 — Patriots Day — key north-south traffic routes across Newton will be closed across the five miles of the Boston Marathon course that run through the city. The road closures will be in place from Lower Falls along Washington Street/Route 16 and then turning onto Commonwealth Avenue at the fire house, and on to Boston College. (See full list of road closures and parking restrictions.) Trash pick-up across the city will be delayed one day throughout the week.
According to the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) Spectator guide pdf, race route closures will start at 7AM and run through 4:45PM. The Newton Police, however, list the closures as 8:00 AM-6:00 PM. The closure times are effectively “no later than times,” and many barriers will be need to be put in place before the posted times.
BAA spectator guidelines have been made more specific this year in regards to keeping the course clear, calling out specifically: “SPECTATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER THE COURSE, RUN ALONGSIDE ATHLETES, OR IMPEDE ATHLETES IN ANY MANNER. ANY PERSON ON THE COURSE WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL RACE BIB OR ACCREDITATION WILL BE DIRECTED TO LEAVE THE COURSE IMMEDIATELY.”
This emphasis comes after controversial enforcement of this policy on Commonwealth Avenue in Newton last year. In response to that incident, the BAA will also be adding additional four miles of steel fencing along the Marathon route this year to keep the course clear. [Update: The running group filed a lawsuit on Thursday].
Closures on major north-south streets — such as Walnut, Chestnut, Centre, and Grant — will be set back significantly from the course to allow for proper detours. These closures can disrupt GPS routes used by ride-hailing services, contractors, as well as out-of-town friends coming to visit to watch the race.
Residents wanting to get from the south side of the city to the north must take Route 9 West, I-95 North, and the Mass. Pike (I-90) East to Newton Corner. Traveling south requires getting on Route 95 South from either Commonwealth Avenue (west of the fire house) or the Mass. Pike (I-90).
There will also be significant activity by low-flying helicopters in the days leading up to the race as security officials establish a radiation level baseline map from which any change on race day could be detected.
At least fifty Newton runners are running the Boston Marathon to raise funds to support local charities, and Fig City News has their fundraising links through which everyone is encouraged to make tax-deductible contributions.
The wheelchair racers will arrive at Mile 21 (Heartbreak Hill) around 10:06AM, with the lead men and women arriving around 11:16AM and 11:40AM respectively. Follow along with the BAA race app.
