Expect traffic delays on marathon Sunday

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The King’s Cup Pattaya Marathon is being run this Sunday, July 15, full details of which can be found in the sports section this week.

Commuters are being warned to expect lengthy traffic delays, as several main arteries in Pattaya will be at least partially closed Sunday morning from around 4 a.m. until noon.

The marathon route starts and finishes near Central Festival on Beach Road, so Beach Road will be closed for the entire event.  For the rest of the course, police will close the left lane on all roads used in the marathon.  Roads affected by this include North Pattaya Road, Sukhumvit Highway, Central Pattaya Road, Thepprasit Road, Soi Wat Boon in Jomtien, Jomtien Beach Road, Thappraya Road and Beach Road past Bali Hai pier and back to the start finish at Central Plaza.

At press time, police told Pattaya Mail that Sukhumvit will not be shut down entirely, but that traffic will be held up intermittently to let runners cross the busy highway.  According to the course map, there will be 5 different crossings: 1) North Road for marathon and wheelchair competitors; 2) Central Road for the quarter marathon; 3) between Thepprasit and South Pattaya Road for the return of quarter marathon runners; 4) Thepprasit for half marathon runners; and 5) Khao Cheechan in southern Jomtien.

Commuters are advised to find alternative routes during marathon hours, although police have not suggested any such detours.