Around 9 a.m. on Monday, the 120th Boston Marathon will commence in Hopkinton on its way to the big finish in Copley Square. An estimated 500,000 spectators will be trying to get to the world's most famous footrace to watch more than 30,000 competitors.
How best to get there? Probably the T. That is because a goodly number of streets will be closed beginning in the wee small hours of Monday morning. Below is a list of said closures along and around the 26.2-mile route, beginning with a general overview, per marathon operator the Boston Athletic Association, which also provided the handy route map above. (The list is also helpful if one is trying to avoid the race altogether.)
- Hopkinton: Streets will begin shutting down at 7 a.m. and opening up again at 1:30 p.m.
- Ashland: Closures will run from 7:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
- Framingham: Closures here will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Natick: Closures will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
- Wellesley: Closures will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
- Newton: Closures will run from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
- Brookline: Closures will run from 9:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
In Boston proper, the city will start shutting streets in the hours just before dawn. See this rundown from City Hall:
- 5 a.m.: Streets in the vicinity of the Boston Common will close
- 6 a.m.: Boylston Street, Hereford Street to Arlington Street will close
- 8 a.m.: All streets east of Massachusetts Avenue (as well as Massachusetts Turnpike Exit 22) will close
- 8 a.m.: All streets west of Massachusetts Avenue in the Kenmore Square Audubon Circle area will close
- 8:30 a.m.: All streets in the Brighton area leading into the route will close
The city goes into more detail here, including regarding parking restrictions. Suffice to say, because of the terrorist attack in 2013, security will be tight and no-driving/no-parking rules will be in full effect. The MBTA has information on extra T service for Marathon Monday. Good luck.
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