Road Closures and Parking for the Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10 / 5km Challenge Maritzburg: 
Sunday 17 August
A full field of 3,500 competitors is expected at this year’s Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge, which takes place this Sunday 17 August, around Alexandra Park and the outskirts of the CBD, participants are requested to note the road closures so as to avoid traffic congestion on race day and be late for their start.
‘We are encouraging everyone to plan ahead to make sure you are on time. Both distances start promptly at 8am and we are full to capacity, which will impact on access roads to the start. Please research the routes and road closures so as not to miss the starter’s pistol’, stated Race Director, Brad Glasspoole. “Participants will have a 15 minute start window after which the route will be closed for safety reasons.”
The start line is near Maritzburg College, both the 10km and 5km events’ routes are “out-and-back” starting in Princess Margaret Drive and finishing at The Oval, Cricket Stadium.
The road closures and times are as follows:
Sunday, 17 August
Balmoral Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11:00
Princess Margaret Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11: 00
Park Drive between Princess Margaret Drive and Princess Elizabeth Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11:00
Princess Elizabeth Drive - closed from 03:00 – 11:00
Park Drive from College Road to Princess Margaret Drive - closed from 07:00 – 11:00
Alexandra Road from Cross Road to Alan Paton Avenue - closed (inbound only) from 07:00 – 10:00
Alan Paton Avenue from Alexandra Road to Burger Street - closed (inbound only) from 07:00 – 08:30
Alexandra Road between Alan Paton Avenue and Jesmond Road – closed in both directions from 07:30 until approximately 08:45
West Street / College Road (away from the CBD) closed from 07:00 till approximately 10:00
Residents in the New Scotland Road area of Pelham will be able to access their residence from Campsdrift Road and egress via College Road towards the CBD between 07:00 and 10:00.
Parking for the event is on the soccer fields off Prince Charles Drive (next to the BMX track) which can be accessed via Alan Paton Avenue / Chief Albert Luthuli Street (near Alexandra Baths) into Park Drive.
There will be no access from Jesmond Road / Alexandra Road intersection into the Park.
Additional Parking will be on the fields adjacent to Kershaw Park Tennis Club off Chief Albert Luthuli Street.
The race is completely sold out. Participants who have entered will be able to collect their race numbers and goodie bags on Friday 15 August from 10am to 5pm and on Saturday 16 August from 10am to 3pm at The Oval Cricket Ground, Alexandra Park.
For more info visit the official race on https://sparwomenschallenge.co.za/maritzburg/
Pic by Val Adamson: Ready to run! The Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10/ 5km Challenge takes place on Sunday 17 August. Please make arrangements for getting there on time. Getting ready for the action are (left to right) Cindy Watridge (SPAR KZN Omni Channel Retail Operations Manager), learner from Pietermaritzburg Girls High School, Abusiswa Mnguni and Natasha Jeebodh (SPAR KZN Development Design Manager).
