Get ready to be either inconvenienced or rubbed down with Vaseline: it's time again for the ING Miami Marathon, with 25,000 runners and walkers weaving their way from Downtown to Miami Beach to Coconut Grove through Little Havana -- and on three major bridges, to boot.
[See the full race route here.]
The race starts at 6:15 a.m. Sunday in front of AmericanAirlines Arena, but counter traffic controls and street closures begin as early as 9 a.m. Saturday. Here's what you need to know if you've got to leave the house:
Saturday, 9:00 a.m.: Vehicular traffic traveling north on Biscayne Boulevard will be directed into a counter flow along the southbound lanes, allowing traffic to move both north and south on one side of Biscayne Boulevard. This will cause traffic delays, police say, but all vehicles will be able to get to all businesses and residences within the affected areas.
Saturday night, 10:00 p.m.: No northbound traffic will be allowed over the Brickell Bridge from SE 7th Street, directed instead to move west on SE 7th Street. A police officer will be present to allow local traffic only into the Epic, One Miami, Miami Center, Inter-Continental Hotel, and any businesses associated with these buildings. The JW Marriott will not have access to their building northbound via the Brickell Bridge. Residents and customers must notify the officer at the intersection which building they are going to in order to gain access.
Sunday morning, 5:00 a.m.: Hard closure of streets goes into effect. Miami police say downtowners "should understand that traffic delays are inevitable and should avoid traveling in the area if possible," with officers advised to allow residents and guests into the area only if and when it can be done in a safe fashion. Here's how to get in and out of hotels, residences, and businesses along Biscayne -- if you must:
Inter-Continental Hotel -- Only way in is via the Brickell Bridge.
Bayside -- Employees and customers will be allowed access via Port Boulevard (NE 5th Street).
50 Biscayne, Vizcayne, Riande Hotel and Port Shuttle Buses, New World Tower -- Travel on NE 2nd Avenue to NE 2nd Street. Contact the police officer at the corner of NE 2nd Avenue and NE 2nd Street and they will direct you east to NE 3rd Avenue.
Holiday Inn -- Enter via NE 2nd Avenue; all vehicles exiting will be directed west on NE 4th Street. Contact officers at the corner of NE 2nd Avenue and NE 4th Street and let them know you are going to the Holiday Inn.
Loft I, Loft II, Congress Building -- Use NE 2nd Avenue to NE 3rd Street to gain entrance to the Miami Parking Garage.
Marina Blue, 900 Biscayne, Ten Museum Tower -- vehicles should use NE 2nd Avenue to enter and exit from the building.
Hyatt and River Park Hotel -- Use I-95 or SE 2nd Avenue to enter the Hotel. Exiting vehicles can go south on SE 2nd Avenue to the Brickell Bridge only.
Marriott Double Tree Hotel -- Gain entrance via SE 2nd Avenue and SE 2ND Street, contacting the police officer at the intersection.
Ivy, Mint and Wind -- Contact the police officers at the intersection and travel north over the S. Miami Avenue Bridge or via SW 2ND Avenue to SW 3rd Street.
Met One and S.E. Financial Building (Wachovia) -- Enter via I-95 or via SE 2nd Avenue and 3rd Street, contacting the police officers at the intersections who will assist in travelling the wrong way on SE 3 Street.
JW Marriott and Wells Fargo Building -- Only entrance is via I-95 or SE 2nd Avenue. Employees or tenants of the Wells Fargo building will need to alert officers so that they can turn on SE 3rd Street and gain entrance to the parking garage.
One Biscayne Tower and SunTrust Building -- Access limited to SE 1st Street; employees and tenants will face serious traffic delays as the runners will be traveling south on SE 3rd Avenue. Vehicles will only be allowed to cross the intersection when there is a break between the runners and it can be done in a safe manner. Contact officers at the intersection.
Miami Tower Building -- Enter and exit via SE 4th Street or via SE 2nd Avenue and SE 2nd Street.