Take Your Marks for the Reading Half
- Reading's famous Half Marathon returns on Sunday April 14
- Residents reminded to pay attention to rolling road closures and plan ahead for any journeys
THOUSANDS of runners will be pounding the streets of Reading once again on Sunday 14 April as the Reading Half returns to town.
Elite athletes will be rubbing shoulders with amateur runners, and everyone in between, as participants again embark on the 13-mile course which culminates in a sprint finish at the Select Car Leasing Stadium – home of the Royals. The shorter and well-established ‘Green Park Challenge’ will again take place alongside the main marathon race.
Residents are being warned not be caught out by the rolling road closures which will affect the route on the day and to allow extra time for any journeys they may have planned that Sunday. Full details of all routes and roads affected are at www.reading.gov.uk/halfmarathon
Roads can be closed at any point between 7am and 4pm and diversion routes will be in effect, but a guideline of timelines for each road closure can be found below (*see notes to editor). Closures will be lifted as soon as all runners have passed through and when it is safe to do so. All roads are expected to re-open by 4pm.
As usual, runners in the main race are due to gather at Green Park for a 10.15am start when they will then embark on their route around Reading, initially through Whitley, taking in the University campus before crossing the Kennet and making their way into the heart of the town centre. They will then travel west towards Prospect Park before looping back around and down the A33 towards the home of Reading FC for the finale.
A full route map can be found at: www.reading.gov.uk/halfmarathon
On race day itself, there will be around 700 volunteers staffing the route without whom the race could not happen. The Reading Half Marathon 2024 is hosted by Goldline Events. Reading Council supports the event by co-ordinating road closures, hosting the information point at the stadium for racegoers and providing a residents’ hotline.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Culture and Leisure, said:
“The Reading Half is always a fantastic day in the calendar which allows us to show off everything our wonderful town has to offer to the many thousands of runners and other visitors who descend here. I’m sure that, as is usually the case, many hundreds of local residents will again be lining the streets, cheering on the pack of runners and creating a special atmosphere which plays such a big role in helping participants reach the finish line, no matter how exhausted they may be!
“We want everyone to enjoy their Sunday however and, as usual, we would advise residents to plan ahead and familiarise themselves with the list of rolling road closures which will be in operation throughout the day. There will again be a residents’ helpline available on the day on 0118 937 2771.”
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.
Notes to editors
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.
A33 (southbound) 9.45am – 11.30am entire Bennet Rd gyratory system
Bennet Road 9.50am – 3.00pm entire length
Basingstoke Road 9.50am – 11.25am between Imperial Way & Callington Road
Island Road 9.30am – 2.35pm entire length
Hartland Road 9.30am – 11.40am entire length
Whitley Wood Road 9.30am – 12.00pm between Hartland Road & Shinfield Road
Shinfield Road 9.30am – 12.30pm between Whitley Wood Road & Christchurch Road
Pepper Lane 9.30am – 12.30pm entire length
Christchurch Road 9.30am – 12.30pm entire length
Kendrick Road 8.30am – 1.00pm entire length
London Road 9.45am – 12.40pm between Sidmouth Street & Crown Street
London Street 9.00am – 12.40pm entire length
Mill Lane (north & southbound) 7.00am – 12.40pm entire length
Duke Street 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
Thorn Lane 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
Yield Hall Place 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
Minster Street 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
Gun Street 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
King Street 9.30am – 12.40pm entire length
King’s Road 9.30am – 12.40pm between Abbey Street and King Street
High Street 9.30am – 12.40pm open for exit onto Kings Road
Abbey Square 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
Abbey Street 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
Abbots Walk 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
The Forbury 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
Butter Market 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
Market Place 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
Valpy Street 9.30am – 12.45pm entire length
Blagrave Street 9.30am – 12.45pm between Valpy Street and Friar Street
Friar Street 9.00am – 12.50pm between Blagrave Street and West Street
Station Road 9.30am – 12.50pm entire length
West Street 9.00am – 12.50pm entire length
Oxford Road 9.30am – 1.05pm between West Street and Bedford Road (restricted access from 9am)
Russell Street 9.30am – 1.00pm entire length
Tilehurst Road 9.30am – 1.15pm between Russell Street and Liebenrood Road
Liebenrood Road 9.30am – 2.00pm entire length
Bath Road 9.00am – 1.50pm between Circuit Lane and Coley Avenue
Castle Hill 9.00am – 1.50pm entire length
Coley Avenue 9.30am – 1.40pm between Bath Road and Berkeley Avenue
Traffic lights all stop when lead is approaching
Coley Avenue
for elite wheelchair
Berkeley Avenue 9.30am – 1.55pm between Elgar Road and Shaw Road
Rose Kiln Lane (northbound) 9.30am – 1.55pm between Berkeley Avenue and junction with A33
A33 (northbound) 9.30am – 3.00pm between Bennet Road and IDR
Lindisfarne Way 9.45am – 11.30am westbound – no access to A33
Longwater Avenue 6.00am – 3.00pm entire length
Brook Drive 6.00am – 3.00pm entire length
Northern Way 6.00am – 4.00pm entire length
Hoops Way 6.00am – 4.00pm entire length
Shooters Way 6.00am – 4.00pm entire length
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 Household Waste Recycling Centre and access to Link Retail Park will open around 2.30pm