FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Twin Cities In Motion Urges Motorists to Plan Ahead on Race Day

METRO Green Line Rides Free for Runners on Sunday, October 5

St. Paul, Minn. October 2, 2014 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon organizer Twin Cities In Motion advises Minneapolis and St. Paul residents on the move on Sunday morning to plan their travel ahead of time due to street closures for the 33^rd annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and Medtronic TC 10 Mile on October 5.

On race day, motorists will also notice traffic restrictions in downtown Minneapolis starting in the early morning hours on Sunday. An area near the former Metrodome site from 5th Avenue to 11th Avenue and from 6th Street to 3rd Street will be closed at 5:00 a.m. for start line setup, reopening at approximately 9:00 a.m.

Along the marathon course which runs from downtown Minneapolis, along the chain of lakes to Minnehaha Parkway, up West River Road to the Franklin Bridge, down East River Road to Summit Avenue, to the finish at the state capitol will prompt rolling road closures on the course itself and limit traffic across it to selected crossing points. The crossing points are listed on the Twin Cities In Motion website at www.tcmevents.org/traffic.

At the finish area on the State Capitol grounds in St. Paul, following closures are scheduled:

• John Ireland Blvd. between 12th Street and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. closed Thursday, October 2 at 9:00 a.m.
• Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Aurora Avenue will close Friday, October 3 at 5:00 p.m.

• 12th Street from Wabasha to John Ireland Blvd. will be closed Saturday, October 4 from 5:00 a.m. to noon and on Sunday, October 5 from 5:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Due to the rerouting of the Medtronic TC 10 Mile this year, the Franklin Avenue Bridge crossing the Mississippi River in Minneapolis will be closed to motor vehicle traffic while the race passes the bridge entrance along East River Road. The motor vehicle closure is expected to last from roughly 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m.

I-35W Detour: Participants traveling to Minneapolis from the north are reminded that the Department of Transportation will be detouring southbound traffic on I-35W in Minneapolis throughout the weekend. Southbound I-35W traffic will be detoured to southbound Highway 280 and westbound I-94 from 10:00 p.m. Friday until 5:00 a.m. Monday. MnDOT urges motorists to always be attentive, drive with caution, slow down in work zones and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.

Parking: Motorists are reminded that normal parking rules and fees apply and should take note of any hooded meters signifying no parking. Finish line parking is available on the streets and in various lots around the Capitol grounds in Saint Paul. The Sears store, west of the Capitol, offers limited Event Parking near the finish line on a first come first serve basis for $15.

Light Rail: Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and Medtronic TC 10 Mile runners can ride the METRO Green Line on Sunday, October 5 for free. To use the service, runners simply need to show their race bib when asked by Metro Transit officials. The offer is only good for rides on the METRO Green Line, which has stops near the start line in Minneapolis and the finish line in St. Paul.

More than 29,000 runners are expected for the 33rd annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend which includes events on Saturday, October 4 on and near the State Capitol grounds. For more information about the events, visit the Twin Cities In Motion website, tcmevents.org.