Temporary road closures for Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon and 10K

Residents are being warned about road closures during the Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run, which returns on Sunday 6 October between 10am and 3pm.

Race routes remain the same and are designed to minimise disruption to the road network whilst taking in some of the region’s best open spaces - including Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough, Broadfield Park, Kingsway Business Park, the Stanney Brook Corridor and Rochdale Canal.

Motorists are advised to make alternative arrangements in advance if they need to exit any of the closed areas by car on the day. Diversions will be signposted and plans will be in place for access by the emergency services. 

The half marathon leaves the town hall along The Esplanade and runs along the edge of Broadfield Park, before heading through to the Rochdale Canal at Oldham Road Basin. The route then heads past Kingsway Business Park and Smithy Bridge along the canal. Close to the Waterside Restaurant in Littleborough it leaves the tow path and heads up Hollingworth Road towards Hollingworth Lake, making a clockwise loop of the lake. 

Runners then return down Hollingworth Road and back onto the canal. The race retraces its outward route from the town hall until it reaches Broadfield Park, where runners go through the park before re-joining The Esplanade for the final sprint to the finish line.

The 10K follows the same route as the half marathon on to the canal, but leaves the canal at the swing bridge at Kingsway Business Park, making a loop of scenic cycleways, before returning to the canal and the same finishing route as the half marathon.

Between 10am and 3pm sections of St Alban’s Street, Mere Street, Tweedale Street, Miall Street, Durham Street and Milkstone Road will be closed. Between 10.30am and 12pm a section of Oldham Road will be closed and The Esplanade by Rochdale Town Hall will be closed from 6am to 6pm.

Canal Street, Hollingworth Road and Lake Bank in Littleborough will be closed from 11am to 1pm.

The Esplanade, including the entire car parking area in front of the town hall, will be closed to traffic from 6am-6pm.

Bus services will run as normal, however some stops may be temporarily suspended so bus users are advised to plan their journey ahead.

Springhill Hospice is the official charity for the event.

Councillor Janet Emsley cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Some residents will be affected but where possible we have notified them. These closures are in place to ensure the safety of the runners, although we will re-open the roads as soon as it is safe to do so. More than a thousand runners will be taking part to raise money for charity and this event has raised tens of thousands for good causes over the last four years so I hope residents will line the routes and show them their support.”

Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run is organised by Middleton Harriers, Rochdale Harriers and Rochdale Triathlon Club supported by Rochdale Borough Council.

To view the full routes in detail, including maps and a video, visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/run