4/20/2012: Big Sur Marathon Details, April 29 5:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Today’s Date: Friday, April 20, 2012 District: 5 (Santa Barbara, SLO, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties) Contact: Susana Z. Cruz (Bilingual) or Colin Jones Phone: (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3189 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BIG SUR MARATHON TO BE RUN ON HIGHWAY 1 NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 29 MONTEREY COUNTY (CARMEL/BIG SUR) – The Big Sur International Marathon will be run along Highway 1 beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 29. The race will start in Big Sur and will end at Rio Road in Carmel. The Big Sur International Marathon will take place on Sunday, April 29, 2012, from 5:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Because of the Marathon, motorists traveling on Highway One between Big Sur (Post Office) and Carmel (Rio Road) will be escorted through the race course in convoys conducted by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for southbound and northbound travel. Caltrans suggests the use of alternative routes for motorists wishing to avoid the extremely limited access through the affected portions of Highway 1. Local businesses and services are anticipated to be open during the event. Motorists and bicyclists should expect considerable delays. Caltrans reminds motorists that ‘we’re here to get you there.’ To find out further information about the marathon, please call (831) 625-6226 or visit the official race website (http://bsim.org) (Below is the Big Sur International Marathon Traffic Control and Caravan Schedule, which is also listed on the BSIM website) BIG SUR MARATHON TRAFFIC CONTROL MEASURES In order to protect the safety of the runners, it is necessary to control the traffic flow on Highway One from 4:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Race Day, Sunday, April 29, 2012. WE URGE YOU TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE PLANS TO AVOID DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ONE THAT MORNING. Traffic on Highway One (except for emergency vehicles) will only be allowed to move in scheduled caravans. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will lead and follow the caravans up and down the highway. Race officials will provide escorts for medical and fire emergency vehicles independent of the scheduled caravans. Any vehicles parked in pull-outs on the WESTERN side of Highway One after 4:00 a.m. must remain there for the duration of the race. Vehicles parked on the EASTERN side of the highway must remain in place until a caravan arrives. NO WHEELED VEHICLES OF ANY DESCRIPTION (bicycles, skate-boards, skates, strollers, etc.) are allowed on the course. Any violators will be subject to citation by the CHP. NORTHBOUND Traffic north will initially be stopped at the Big Sur Post Office at 6:15 a.m. All runners should be north of the Big Sur Village shops by 8:00 a.m. Northbound traffic from the Highlands must cross past the Bay School prior to 6:55 a.m. and be across the Carmel River Bridge by 7:00. Highlands traffic may also join in the 1st northbound caravan at approximately 8:06 a.m. SOUTHBOUND After 4 a.m. LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY WITH OFFICIAL PASSES will be allowed to use Highway One South beyond Otter Cove. Any vehicle traveling south with a pass MUST be past the Big Sur Ranger Station no later than 6:15 a.m. No personal vehicles are allowed to transport runners to the start. Southbound traffic accessing the Carmel Highlands only (no further south than Otter Cove) must be across the Carmel River Bridge prior to 7 a.m. Southbound traffic will be stopped at Otter Cove and held until the 9:45 a.m. caravan south that begins from the Crossroads (see schedule for times along route). Foot traffic is permissible at any time. The California Department of Transportation and California Highway Patrol, in cooperation with the Big Sur Marathon events and with statements of support from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, have adopted the following Caravan Schedule: CARAVAN SCHEDULES These times are approximate, based on race start time and a travel speed of 25 mph. All vehicular traffic will remain in the northbound (eastern) lane. NORTHBOUND CARAVANS 1st NB 2nd NB 3rd NB Starting Line 7:10 Molera Park – Coast Road 7:17 Point Sur 7:23 10:502 Coast Road (Bixby Creek) 7:37 11:03 Palo Colorado 7:46 11:07 12:503 Otter Cove 8:00 11:21 13:04 Yankee Point – Mal Paso Rd. 8:01 11:22 13:05 Highlands Drive 8:06 11:26 13:09 Point Lobos 8:071 11:28 13:11 Race Finish/Rio Rd. 8:28 11:33 13:15 NOTES: 1Held S of Ribera Rd until the end of the 5K Race; 2Forms north of the Pt Sur Naval Facility; 3Forms at Palo Colorado Road EXAMPLE: A resident of Big Sur who wishes to travel north to Monterey may pick up a caravan at either 7:10 AM (Pfeiffer State Park), 10:50 AM (Pt Sur), or 12:50 PM (Palo Colorado). SOUTHBOUND CARAVANS 1st SB 2nd SB Crossroads area 9:45 11:40 Point Lobos 9:50 11:45 Highlands Drive 9:52 11:47 Yankee Point – Mal Paso Rd. 9:56 11:51 Otter Cove 9:57 11:52 Palo Colorado 10:11 12:06 Coast Road (Bixby Creek) 10:15 12:10 Point Sur 10:28 12:23 EXAMPLES: 1. A motorist who wishes to travel south from Otter Cove after 4:00 a.m. may either join the first caravan at 9:57 or wait for the next south-bound caravan at 11:52. 2. A motorist who wishes to travel south from the Crossroads may join either the 9:45 or the 11:40 caravan. # #

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