BURST
With gas prices sky-high and the Vancouver Sun Run happening this weekend, you might be better off parking the car this week.
But if you have to brave the road closure mayhem, here is your handy guide to Vancouver Sun Run traffic closures and detours.
The Vancouver Sun Run will take place on Sunday, April 19.
Attracting tens of thousands of participants, the event is one of the largest 10-km road races in North America.
Hosting this major event requires several road closures, some starting at 5 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m.
Participants who choose to take transit might have an easier time getting downtown, with TransLink boosting SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express service on race day.
Scroll down for a full list of closures, along with a map that highlights the routes to avoid on Sunday, and more details on increased transit service.
Here is a complete list of closures:
EVENT TIMES:
• Mini Sun Run: 8 to 9 a.m.
• Competitive Wheelchairs: 8:50 a.m.
• Main 10K Race: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Roads to reopen: 2 p.m.
• Awards ceremony at B.C. Place: 11 a.m.
START AREA: Georgia Street, from Seymour to Thurlow
FINISH AREA: Pacific Blvd., from B.C. Place to Pat Quinn Way
West End:
Georgia Street
• Seymour to Bute: 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Bute to the Causeway (including all streets crossing Georgia): 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Access to Lions Gate Bridge from Pender Street westbound only : 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Howe, Hornby, Burrard, Thurlow: Closed from Dunsmuir to Robson: 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Denman, from Georgia to Beach Avenue: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Gilford Street at West Georgia, north and south access with police assist: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Beach Avenue, from Davie to Jervis: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Pacific Street, from Jervis to Burrard: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Burrard Bridge: Closed to all traffic from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kitsilano / Fairview
• West 3rd Avenue, from Burrard to Fir: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Fir Street, from West 3rd Avenue to West 4th Avenue: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• West 6th Avenue eastbound exit to West 4th Avenue from Granville Bridge: closed to all traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• West 4th Avenue and West 6th Avenue, from Pine to Moberly Street: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
False Creek
• West 2nd Avenue eastbound, Moberly to Alberta: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• West 2nd Avenue eastbound, local access only Alberta to Quebec: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Cambie Bridge (Pacific Boulevard eastbound exit): Off-ramp closed to all traffic from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• West 3rd Avenue, from 2nd Ave to Columbia: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Columbia, from 3rd to 6th Avenue: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• West 6th Avenue, from Columbia to Quebec: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Quebec, from 6th to Expo Boulevard (southbound): 8:20 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Quebec, from 2nd to Terminal (northbound): 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Pacific Boulevard
• Nelson to Carrall: 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Carrall to Quebec: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Local traffic only Nelson to Smithe: 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Pat Quinn Way (Abbot Street), from Expo to Pacific: 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Carrall Street, from Expo to Pacific: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Expo Boulevard, from Quebec Street to Pat Quinn Way: 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Smithe Street, from cul-de-sac to Pacific: 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Increased transit service
TransLink is boosting service on SkyTrain, SeaBus, and the West Coast Express to help runners get to the starting line on time. Keep in mind that some bus routes will be rerouted due to road closures for the race.
SkyTrain service on the Expo and Millennium Lines will begin about 30 minutes earlier on Sunday, with the earliest Expo train heading to Waterfront Station leaving King George Station at 6:38 a.m., and from Production Way-University at 6:38 a.m.
The earliest Millennium Line train will leave Lafarge Lake-Douglas to VCC Clark at 6:26 a.m. and from Lougheed Town Centre at 6:41 a.m.
TransLink said Canada Line trains will also be running more frequently throughout the day, with the earliest train leaving Richmond-Brighouse at 5:04 a.m. and leaving YVR-Airport at 5:09 a.m.
SeaBus service will start an hour earlier, with the first departure from Lonsdale Quay at 7:32 a.m. and from Waterfront Station at 7:46 a.m.
The West Coast Express , which typically does not run on weekends, will operate a special train departing from Mission City Station at 7 a.m. and arriving to Waterfront for 8:15 a.m. Post-race, there will be an eastbound train leaving Waterfront Station at 1 p.m.