Nearly 9,000 runners and walkers are expected to swarm the streets of downtown Fort Lauderdale for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run, organizers said, and that means there will be some road closures starting mid-week.
The run and walk begins at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at Huizenga Plaza in Bubier Park, at 32 E. Las Olas Blvd, and is expected to end by 8:30 p.m.
From 4 p.m. Wednesday, to 11 p.m. Thursday, the eastbound lanes of East Las Olas Boulevard will be closed between Andrews Avenue and Southeast First Avenue.
From 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through 11 p.m. Thursday, the westbound lanes will be closed along that stretch of Las Olas as well.
From 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Las Olas Boulevard will be closed between Southeast First and Second avenues, and Southeast First Avenue will be closed from Southeast Second Street to Las Olas Boulevard.
Fort Lauderdale police will divert traffic from the first half-mile of the race route, north of the New River, because it will be filled with runners and walkers.
Traffic will be rerouted east on Davie Boulevard because no traffic will be allowed on Southeast Third Avenue north of Davie Boulevard. Police will reopen Southeast Third Avenue once the runners and walkers make the westbound turn onto Southeast 14th Street.
Alternate routes include Broward Boulevard, Southeast 17th Street, Southeast Fourth Avenue and Federal Highway/U.S.1.
The event’s road closures only affect traffic west of Southeast Fifth Avenue, south of Southeast Second Street, East of Andrews Avenue or north of Southeast 16th Street, planners said.
Known as “Florida’s Largest Office Party,” employees from nearly 300 businesses, corporations, government agencies, financial institutions and non-profit organizations are expected to participate in the 3.1 mile event.
wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4303 or Twitter @WayneRoustan
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