Some 40,000 participate in Tel Aviv Marathon, massive gridlock

Many thoroughfares were closed from the early morning hours Friday and will open up again midday. No parking was allowed along any of the running routes from Thursday evening. In addition, public transportation routes were changed to avoid the marathon’s routes. 

Runners lined up at the starting line near the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds Friday morning for the various races. Organizers estimated that some 150,000 spectators will cheer the runners along the routes. The races are due to end by 1 P.M., when all the roads will open to traffic again.

The event launched at 6.25 A.M. with a handcycle race followed by the full marathon, which kicked off at 6:30 A.M. After that two half-marathon runs will start, followed by three 10-kilometer runs, a children’s race and the final 1-kilometer run, which starts at 10:45 A.M.

The races start this year on Rokach Boulevard Begin and Namir roads will be closed to traffic, as well as the Rokach, Halacha and Shalom interchanges. The Ayalon highway will remain open in both directions.

The following Tel Aviv roads will also be closed: Rokach and its continuation Hata’arucha, Levi Eshkol, Agnon, Unitzman, Tel Aviv Port, Road 2040, the Glilot intersection, Yarkon, Herbert Samuel, Koifman, Goldman, Dizengoff, Allenby, Rothschild, Tarsat, Ben Gurion, Kaplan, Hashmonaim, Ibn Gvirol, Marmorek, Jerusalem Boulevard, Herzl, Elifelet and Ha’aliyah Hashniya (Jaffa Port).

The Tel Aviv municipality canceled classes at schools and kindergartensin the city, claiming the traffic disruptions caused by the marathon would prevent children from getting to school on time.

The commercially sponsored marathon is set to kick off earlier this year at the Health Ministry’s instructions. The weather Friday is expected to be comfortable, unlike last year’s heat wave.