Some road, lane closures during Secret City Half Marathon Nov. 30-Dec. 1

Some traffic lanes and roads will be closed, and several main roads and intersections will be affected by the Secret City Half Marathon road races next weekend, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, officials said Thursday.

About 800 runners are expected to race on the streets and greenways of Oak Ridge during these family-friendly athletic events, the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a press release Thursday.

“Motorists should be aware of runners and walkers in the race areas and try to avoid these roads and find alternate routes if possible,” the release said.

The first-ever Secret City 5k and 10k races will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 a.m. The Oak Ridge Police Department will shut down portions of the race course during the affected time periods. Both races start and finish on Badger Avenue near Oak Ridge Associated Universities and continue along the following route through central Oak Ridge:

• ORAU Road from Badger Avenue to Oak Ridge Turnpike at Robertsville Road
• Oak Ridge Turnpike from Robertsville Road to Viking/West Main Street (one lane of traffic traveling east will be shutdown)
• West Main Street to Rutgers Avenue
• Rutgers Avenue to South Illinois Avenue (one lane traffic closed)
• South Illinois Avenue traveling north to Badger Avenue

The Secret City Half Marathon will be held Sunday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 a.m. The scenic 13.1-mile certified course, which starts and ends at National Fitness Center on Briarcliff Avenue, runs along Oak Ridge city streets and greenways, including the Melton Lake Greenway. The following roads will be affected by the race and shutdown at certain times that morning:

• Emory Valley Road going westbound will be closed from 7:45 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
• Briarcliff Avenue (between Emory Valley Road and Laboratory Road) will be closed from 7 a.m.–7:45 a.m. that morning.
• One lane of Oak Ridge Turnpike traveling east will be closed for the event.
• Motorists should expect delays on Melton Lake Drive due to runners crossing and re-crossing the street in two locations to run on the greenway.

Online registration for the 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, and Half Marathon Relay is still available and can be found by visiting www.secretcityhalfmarathon.com. Participants will also find information about packet pickup, parking, and registration fees.

Proceeds from the Secret City Half Marathon events go to the following organizations:

• ASAP (Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County)
• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Tennessee Heartland)
• TORCH (Trinity Out Reach Center of Hope)

The half marathon weekend also features a new Health and Fitness Expo Saturday, Nov. 30, from noon until 6 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The event will include booths and exhibits from fitness and health professionals around the region. Businesses and health professionals interested in participating in the Health and Fitness Expo should contact the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau at (865) 482-7821 for more details and vendor information.

The ORCVB is a local organization formed to strengthen the area economy through the marketing and promotion of Oak Ridge as a destination for sports, meetings, business, and leisure travel. Visit them online at oakridgevisitor.com for more information.