The annual Melbourne Marathon Festival returns in 2021 with a new look, held this weekend on Saturday, 11 and Sunday, 12 December.
A number of road closures will be in place to allow the event to safely run. Buses are also replacing trains on a number of lines over the weekend.
On Saturday, three events will be held: a 3km walk, 5km run and 10km run, starting from Yarra Park at 3pm.
As a result, Brunton Avenue, Jolimont Road and Jolimont Terrace will be closed from 12.30pm until 8.30pm.
There will be three events on Sunday starting on Batman Avenue and ending at the MCG. They are a 42km marathon and wheelchair marathon, and a 21km half-marathon.
A number of road closures will be in place on Sunday, starting from 3.30am, for the safety of participants and motorists.
Affected roads include:
- St Kilda Road from the Junction to Flinders Street
- Flinders Street between Spring and Swanston streets
- Batman Avenue between Olympic Boulevard and Flinders Street
- Wellington Parade South from Flinders Street to Jolimont Road, Jolimont Road and Brunton Avenue,
- Beach Road from Port Melbourne to Elwood
- Lakeside Drive and and roads around Albert Park Lake.
All roads will be re-opened on Sunday by 1pm.
We ask motorists to plan ahead if they’re driving through the affected areas on Sunday and to allow extra time for the detours.
Tram services on routes 1, 3a, 5, 6, 16, 58, 64, 67, 70, 72, 75 and 96 from first tram to 12.30pm will be affected and no trams will operate between Collins Street and the Arts Precinct on Swanston Street and St Kilda Road.
We suggest those heading to the event, whether participating or supporting, take public transport, as nearby parking will be in short supply. Limited paid parking will be available at the MCG in Yarra Park, via gates 5 and 6 from 4am.
The closest train stations are Richmond and Flinders Street. For those travelling from regional Victoria, V/Line services operate to Southern Cross Station.
Participants are advised to plan their trip and allow extra travel time with work across the public transport network planned over the weekend.
Buses are replacing trains this weekend on the:
- Werribee line between North Melbourne and Werribee
- Williamstown line between North Melbourne and Williamstown
- Mernda line between Parliament and Reservoir
- Hurstbridge line between Parliament and Heidelberg
- Sandringham line between Richmond and Sandringham
- Pakenham/Cranbourne/Frankston line between Richmond/Burnley and Caulfield
Plan your trip at ptv.vic.gov.au or on the PTV mobile app.
Real-time traffic conditions are available at traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au or via the VicTraffic mobile app.
