Special to the PRESS
Runners and walkers will take over a portion of the Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge Saturday morning as the 11th Annual Summer Causeway Run & Fitness Walk returns to the Laguna Madre area.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, beginning at 6:30 a.m., with participants traveling from Port Isabel across the causeway and onto South Padre Island.
Motorists should expect temporary lane closures and traffic delays between approximately 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. as the South Padre Island Police Department and other city departments provide traffic control and assist participants along the route.
“Our top priority is always keeping the public safe,” South Padre Island Police Chief Claudine O’Carroll said. “We want to ensure both the participants and visitors can enjoy their time on South Padre Island.”
The competitive wave of the 10K will begin at 6:30 a.m. at the Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center, followed by the non-competitive 10K wave at 7 a.m.
Runners will travel east toward South Padre Island using the outside right lane of the Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge. After reaching the Island, participants will turn south onto Park Road 100 and continue toward Isla Blanca.
Runners will then exit Isla Blanca and travel north on Park Road 100 before finishing near Beach Water Park.
The 5K fitness walk is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m., also departing from the Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center. Walkers will cross the bridge using the outside eastbound lane before turning south on Park Road 100 and continuing to the finish line at Beach Water Park.
The causeway will remain open to vehicle traffic throughout the event, but eastbound motorists will be restricted to the inside left lane while runners and walkers use the outside lane. Cones and traffic personnel will be positioned along the bridge to separate participants from vehicles.
Westbound traffic leaving South Padre Island is expected to remain unobstructed.
Once on the Island, southbound vehicle traffic traveling alongside the race route on Park Road 100 will also be merged into the inside left lane.
Temporary lane restrictions are expected to remain in place from approximately 6 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Emergency vehicles will provide a tail escort behind participants until the event concludes.
City officials are encouraging motorists traveling between Port Isabel and South Padre Island Saturday morning to allow additional time and use caution around participants, officers and traffic-control personnel.