Weekend in Belgrade: More than 100 city transport lines changed due to the marathon

For the first time since it was established in 1988, Belgrade Marathon will last two days this year - April 18 and 19. The half-marathon is on the program on Saturday, April 18, from nine o'clock, while the marathon will be run on Sunday from eight o'clock.

Due to the expanded program, significant changes are expected in traffic throughout the city, and more than 100 public transport lines will be changed.

"As many as 104 lines are changing their route, there will be 400 representatives of the traffic police at 100 intersections. There are 1.200 wardens who will make sure that everything runs smoothly. We will install 2.500 traffic signs, and there will be 100 vehicles on the marathon route. We have created 11 time ramps," said the city's secretary for defense, emergency situations and coordination, Darko Glavaš.

He added that parts of Donji Dorćol and Kalemegdan will also be closed this year, with the gradual opening of the streets as the competitors pass by.

"The city traffic regime starts to change already on Friday, from 10 p.m., primarily on Republic Square, and will last until Sunday until the afternoon hours. I especially emphasize that on Saturday from 22 p.m., all streets will be open except for part of the start-finish zone, and new closures are coming before the start of the 13-kilometer race, which starts at 18 p.m.," Glavaš pointed out.

Route and closed streets

The marathon route of the Belgrade Marathon is designed to include the most important city roads and sights, with a combination of central streets and wide boulevards of New Belgrade.

The start of the marathon is set at Trg republike, and further streets: Makedonska, Svetogorska, Takovska, 27. Marta, Kraljice Marije, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra, Beogradska, Nemanjina, Savski trg, Karađorđeva, Zemunski put, Bulevar Woodrow Wilson, Bulevar Vojvode Mišić and Most na Ada.

After crossing the bridge, the route continues through New Belgrade, along the streets: Heroja sa Košar Boulevard, Red Army Boulevard, Đorđe Stanojevića Boulevard, Youth Brigade Boulevard, Zoran Đinđić Boulevard, Youth Brigade Boulevard, Mihajlo Pupin Boulevard, Ulica Ušće, Nikola Tesla Boulevard, Aleksinački Rudar, Mihajlo Pupin Boulevard, John Kennedy Boulevard, Nikola Tesla Boulevard, Karađorđeva, Glavna, Bežanijska.

Photo: Tanjug/Jovana Kulašević

The runners then pass through the streets of Vrtlarska, 22. Oktober, Aleksandar Dubček, Boulevard Mihajlo Pupin, Paris Commune, National Heroes, Boulevard Milutin Milanković, Youth Brigades, Boulevard Heroja sa Košar, Tošin Bunar, Zemunska, Vojvodina, Nehru, Japan, Gandhi, Yuri Gagarin, Youth Brigade, Đorđe Stanojević, Boulevard Milutin Milankovića, Milentij Popovića and Mihajla Pupin Boulevard

Then there is the return to the old part of the city: Brankov Most - return via Sava, Pop Lukin, Gavrilo Princip, Koča Popović, Karađorđev, Vojvode Bojović Boulevard, Tsar Dušan, George Washington, Despot Stefan Boulevard, Braća Jugović, Makedonska to the final destination at Republic Square.

First time through Belgrade on water

"The two days of the marathon are not the only novelty that we will have this year. A new course route has been prepared with the start and finish at Trg Republike", said the director of the Belgrade Marathon, Darko Habuš.

Also, for the first time in its history, the race route will pass through Belgrade on the water, along Woodrow Wilson Boulevard.

"This whole new concept was adopted in cooperation with European Athletics and is part of the preparations for the European Championships in running at 10, 21 and 42 kilometers, which Belgrade will host in 2027," Habuš said.

The route will not be repeated on sections of 10, 21 and 42 kilometers. It will in every sense bring a completely new experience to all runners, but also enable better and more efficient functioning of traffic, given that no part of the city will be closed for more than half an hour.

Two days of running

For the first time ever, the Belgrade Marathon will last two days, the organizers of the marathon have decided to separate the main race, the half marathon and the pleasure race.

The half-marathon is on the program on Saturday from nine o'clock, April 18, the 10-kilometer race will be held on the same day from 18 o'clock, while the main event - the marathon - will take place on Sunday from eight o'clock.

The marathon race will also be the Balkan championship and the national championship at 42 kilometers.

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