COLUMBUS — Downtown Columbus drivers should expect road closures and heavy delays this weekend as the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon shares the city with two major concerts and a Blue Jackets home game, with restrictions beginning Friday, Oct. 16 and lasting through Sunday, Oct. 18.
The marathon and its companion races will bring thousands of runners and spectators into downtown streets on Sunday. Around the same venues, the Jonas Brothers play Nationwide Arena on Friday, Oct. 16, Twenty One Pilots headline Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17 in the group’s biggest headlining show yet, and the Columbus Blue Jackets play at Nationwide Arena the same day.
The first closures start Friday in the North Bank Park area near Nationwide Arena. The stretch from Hocking Street to Neil Avenue closes at 9 a.m. Friday and stays closed until 6 p.m. Sunday, with two evening exceptions: it reopens from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday for Jonas Brothers traffic and again from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday for fans heading to the Blue Jackets game.
Long Street also closes at 9 a.m. Friday. Later that night, at 11:59 p.m., Spring Street between West Street and Neil Avenue closes until 6 p.m. Sunday, Hanover and Cozzins streets close to all but local traffic, and West Street from Nationwide Boulevard to Marconi Boulevard and John McConnell Boulevard from New Public Way to Spring Street close for the weekend as well.
More restrictions follow late Saturday. At 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Spring Street from Neil Avenue to Hocking Street closes until 6 p.m. Sunday, and Neil Avenue south of Nationwide Boulevard narrows to a single lane reserved for condominium traffic until Sunday evening.
Race day itself begins early. Starting at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, the marathon course — which starts on Long Street — will close in rolling sections timed to the expected arrival of the first and last runners, then reopen behind the field. Spring Street, Long Street and Neil Avenue fully reopen at 6 p.m. Sunday. COTA bus service through downtown will also be disrupted and rerouted on Sunday, and riders should check the transit agency’s posted detours before traveling.
City officials are urging anyone headed downtown this weekend — for the races, either concert or the hockey game — to leave early, expect to walk farther than usual from parking, and follow posted detours rather than relying on a normal route. Residents who live along the closed streets should plan around the Friday morning start of the restrictions. NewsForce247 will update this story if the city changes the closure schedule before Sunday’s race.