Partial road closures for Miri Marathon 2017

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Goh (centre) shows the maps of roads that will be closed for Miri Marathon 2017.

MIRI: Most double-lane roads in this city will be partially closed for the Miri Marathon 2017 on Sunday (March 19).

Miri City Council (MCC) Tourism Development standing committee chairman Councillor Ernest Goh said the roads will be closed at least a day earlier to ensure smooth progress of the event.

“Adding to these, some of the roads such as Tanjong Lobang Downhill, Jalan Kipas (near Miri Outdoor Stadium) and Boulevard Flyover will be closed too. Traffic cones will be placed at certain corners of roads to aid runners’ flow.

“For smooth traffic flow, every traffic junction and roundabout will be manned by traffic police, whilst a road marshal and radio crew will monitor every kilometre of the route. Cyclist marshals will be patrolling in their respective road segments to inspect runners’ flow and their condition.

“We appeal for cooperation from road users and motorists to take note of this notice, as the safety of participants is our top priority,” he said.

Goh said race entry pack collection (REPC) will be from today until Saturday (March 16-18) from 11am to 5pm at the Miri Indoor Stadium.

“Besides that, exhibition booths set up by sponsors including Garmin, Allianz, Hobbies Sportswear and Herbalife will be available at the expo. Registration booths for Bomba Run, Kuching Marathon and Borneo International Marathon will be open on the three-day REPC to enable foreign runners to join the runs.”

On Saturday, shuttle buses will transport outstation runners from Miri Airport to Miri Indoor Stadium to collect their race packs.

Meanwhile, to ensure the safety and welfare of participants, five emergency units will be on standby during the event including  medical officers from Miri Divisional Health Department, an ambulance from Malaysian Red Crescent Miri Chapter, and an ambulance from the Civil Defence Force (JPAM).

They will be stationed at Miri Indoor Stadium, MyyMall Lutong and Beach Republic, as well as move along the race route.

The first-ever full marathon to be held here will see participants from the United States, Kenya, Ethiopia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Brunei, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

About 4,000 participants are expected to run different categories – 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km.

“Most of our outstation participants will run the 42km and 21km races whilst their family members will participate in the 10km and 5km race,” said Goh.

He added that the run will be flagged-off between Jalan Kipas and Jalan Sukan, starting at 2am with the 42km Men’s Open, Men’s Veteran, Women’s Open and Women’s Veteran by Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety Datuk Lee Kim Shin; followed by the 21km Men’s Open, Men’s Veteran, Women’s Open and Women’s Veteran at 5am by Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting.

The 10km Men’s Open and 10km Women’s Open will be flagged-off at 6am by Miri Mayor Adam Yii. Participants for the 5km Fun Run will be flagged-off at 7am.