Heads up motorists—when the Hoptown Half-Marathon and 5K takes over on Saturday, numerous routes will be closed throughout both Hopkinsville and out into the county.
Here’s the layout of the run, which is set to start at 8 a.m. at the Christian County Justice Center parking lot on West Seventh Street and then make it’s way to the Hopkinsville Greenway System, then over to 15th Street and onto Canton Street. From there, the 5K runners will head north on Bethel Street, then onto East Ninth Street and towards the finish line in the Justice Center parking lot.
The half-marathon runners have a longer route, continuing out Main Street and onto Cox Mill Drive, onto Alumni Avenue, then to Latham and then back onto Cox Mill. From there, they’ll cross the Eagle Way Bypass and head to Gary Lane, travel Gary all the way to Lafayette Road, and then go to Foston Chapel Road, where they will rejoin the Greenway System.
Local law enforcement agencies will be accompanying the lead runners for traffic clearance and a “grim sweeper” will be trailing the last runners. Traffic control officers and other race volunteers will be manning intersections to stop traffic as runners cross the intersections.
Several streets will only allow one-way traffic during the race period. Race officials and local law enforcement have worked together on plans to minimize traffic inconveniences and maximize traffic flow.
It’s expected that both the half-marathon and the 5K will be wrapped up by 1 p.m.