CHESTER residents are being advised there will be a number of road closures as this year's Chester Half Marathon race will take place on Sunday, September 19.

Thousands of runners are expected to take part in the 39th Essar Chester Half Marathon, which begins at 9am at Chester Racecourse, ending outside the Town Hall.

And, unlike the Chester 10k race in July, the easing of Covid restrictions will mean spectators are allowed to watch the Active Leisure Event from the sidelines throughout the 13.1-mile route. It will also be the first half marathon in the city since 2019, after the 2020 event was called off due to Covid, with many runners choosing to go the distance virtually instead.

Due to the ongoing Clockwise Chester roadworks, runners are being advised to arrive in plenty of time for the race start at 9am, via Sealand Road and New Crane Street if possible when travelling by car.

There will be a number of temporary road closures throughout the day, to allow runners of all abilities to make it through the course safely.

Here are the roads which will be affected:

  • Lower Watergate Street – closed between 7.30am-10am.
  • Nicholas Street and Grosvenor Street – delays expected between 8.55am and 9.30am.
  • Bridge Street – closed between 8.30am-10.30am.
  • Northgate Street, St Werburgh Street, and Eastgate Street between the Cross and the Grosvenor Precinct – closed between 5.30am-2pm.
  • Canal Street, Garden Lane, Bouverie Street and Cheyney Road/Saughall Road between Bouverie Street junction and A5480 Deva Link – closed between 7.30am-1pm.
  • A5480 Deva Link between Saughall Road and Aldi roundabout – closed between 8.45am-1.30pm.
  • A540 Parkgate Road between Aldi roundabout and Coalpit Lane (near A494 junction) – closed between 8.30am-1pm.
  • Well Lane, Station Road to Demage Lane, Mollington – closed between 8.30am-11am.
  • Overwood Lane, Townfield Lane to Coalpit Lane, Coalpit Lane to Grove Road, Grove Road to Demage Lane, Demage Lane to Station Road, Mollington – closed between 8.30am-noon.
  • Long Lane between A540 Parkgate Road and Fiddlers Lane junctions, and Fiddlers Lane, Saughall – closed between 8.30am-12.30pm.

Runners are advised there is a £4 charge on the centre course car park at Chester Racecourse, and the car park will only be open from 6.30am-7.30am, to allow for the start of the races, reopening at 10am.

Entrants must not take part if they are showing Covid-19 symptoms and/or have tested positive in the days leading up to the race. All runners are advised to take a Lateral Flow Test 24 hours before the race.

Finally, the one-mile fun run, primarily aimed at children begins at 9.20am and raises funds for the Northern Lights Children's Charity.