Front Street and the Memorial Bridge ramps close from 3 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, for 3,000 runners. Most streets reopen by 10:15 a.m. Here is each closure and its time.
More than 3,000 runners will race through downtown Wilmington on Sunday, Nov. 15, in the 28th Battleship Half Marathon and its 10K and 5K. Front Street, several downtown cross streets and the Front Street ramps to and from the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge close from 3 a.m.
The city published the closures in its traffic notice for the race. The reopening times below come from the organizer’s race-day traffic guide.
The short version:
- Saturday, Nov. 14, from noon: Water Street and Princess Street close at the start and finish area.
- Sunday, Nov. 15, from 3 a.m.: about 20 downtown street sections and two bridge ramps close.
- Race starts: the half marathon and 10K at 6:45 a.m., the 5K at 6:55 a.m.
- Course roads reopen: by 10:15 a.m., the organizer says. The start and finish area stays closed until noon.
The course
The half marathon starts on Princess Street near the Alton Lennon Federal Building. The city says runners head south across the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, then north on U.S. 421 and back across the Isabel Holmes Bridge. The course loops back through downtown and around Greenfield Lake before finishing on Princess Street.
The 10K follows the same route but turns around on Greenfield Street. The 5K stays downtown. The organizer’s course maps show each route.
Saturday setup closures
From noon Saturday, Nov. 14:
- Water Street, Market Street to Princess Street
- Princess Street, Front Street to Water Street
The organizer says the start and finish area stays closed until noon Sunday.
Sunday closures with reopening times
All of these close at 3 a.m. Sunday. The times are the organizer’s scheduled reopening times.
| Street | Section | Reopens |
|---|---|---|
| Chestnut Street | Front Street to Water Street | 8:30 a.m. |
| Front Street | Brunswick Street to Red Cross Street | 8:30 a.m. |
| Nutt Street | Hanover Street to Red Cross Street | 8:30 a.m. |
| Hanover Street | Nutt Street to Front Street | 8:30 a.m. |
| Red Cross Street | Water Street to Front Street | 8:30 a.m. |
| Market Street | Front Street to Water Street | 10:15 a.m. |
| Front Street | Ann Street to Orange Street | 10:15 a.m. |
| Southbound Front Street | Third Street to Chestnut Street | 10:15 a.m. |
| Water Street | Market Street to Chestnut Street | noon |
Sunday closures with no reopening time listed
These also close at 3 a.m. The organizer says course roads should reopen by 10:15 a.m., but officers on the scene control access.
- Northbound Front Street, Burnett Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road to Queen Street
- Northbound Front Street, Market Street to Chestnut Street
- Southbound Front Street, Market Street to Queen Street
- The southbound exit ramp to Front Street from the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge (U.S. 74/76)
- The Front Street on-ramp to the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and westbound U.S. 74/76
- Greenfield Street, Front Street to Second Street
- Chestnut Street, Second Street to Front Street
- Second Street, Chestnut Street to Market Street
- Market Street, Second Street to Front Street
- One lane of Lake Shore Drive, Fourth Street to Robin Hood Road
State roads
NCDOT’s DriveNC list shows shoulder closures from 6:45 to 10:15 a.m. Sunday on three state routes:
- U.S. 17 near Queen Street, both directions
- U.S. 74, both directions, between U.S. 76 and U.S. 74 East
- N.C. 133, from U.S. 17 to the Northeast Cape Fear River
NCDOT says to expect congestion and to follow the directions of officers on the course.
What it means for you
- Crossing the river Sunday morning? You cannot get on the Memorial Bridge from Front Street, or off it onto Front Street, until the course reopens. Allow extra time on U.S. 17, U.S. 74 and N.C. 133 until about 10:15 a.m.
- Going to church downtown? The organizer asks drivers to plan extra time for downtown trips, deliveries and church services.
- Live or work on the course? The organizer asks anyone whose driveway, business or parking could be blocked to call before race day: 910-859-9500. The city’s special events office is at 910-765-0630.
- Parking downtown Saturday night? Check the posted signs. Do not move barricades or drive into a coned race lane.
Registration for all three races closes at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, on the race website.
Our road closures page has every other closure in and around Wilmington. For buses, parking decks and the downtown trolley, see getting around Wilmington.
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