Cape Town Marathon 2023 sold out for the first time in its history; Expect road closures this weekend

Entries for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon's has reached its limit and has been sold out for the first time in its history.

The flagship 42,2 km marathon, which is in its 16th year, takes place on Sunday, 15 October 2022, and it will be the second year of the race evaluation for the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

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The newly altered and improved route has however seen the removal of District Six.

‘’This decision has resulted in a reduced elevation profile and consequently approximates a 2:00 faster pace for male elites and 2:30 for the women. With such fierce competition among both the elite men and women, spectators can expect a fierce battle on the course for this year’s 2023 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon,’’ said Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, in a statement.

The City of Cape Town announced that the race, through some of the city's iconic landmarks – from the starting line outside the DHL Stadium, out to Newlands via Nelson Mandela Boulevard passing through Woodstock, Salt River and Mowbray before reaching the CBD and Sea Point.

The marathon will be preceded by 10km and 5km peace runs as well as the two trail runs on Saturday. There will be temporary and rolling road closures in the Green Point and Sea Point areas on Saturday.

Residents and motorists are advised of road closures in the CBD, Atlantic Seaboard and the southern suburbs.

The following major arteries will be closed off to traffic at various times during the day between 05:00 and 14:30 on 15 October:

Helen Suzman Boulevard (between Beach Road and Granger Bay Boulevard) – 06:00 to 14:30

Beach Road (between Surrey Pl and Portswood Drive) -  04:00 08:00

Three Anchor Bay Rd (between Main Road and Beach Road) - 06:00 to 14:00

Beach Road (between Helen Suzman Boulevard and Queens Road) 03:00 to 14:30

Fritz Sonnenberg Road (between Stephan Way and Beach Road) – 06:30 to 08:30

Buitengracht Street (between Helen Suzman Boulevard and Dock Road) – 05:30 to 08:15

Nelson Mandela Boulevard Outbound lanes (between Dock Road and Searle Street) - 05:00 to 09:00

Newmarket Street (between Strand Street and Russell Street) -  06:15 to 12:15

Long Street (between Riebeek and Strand streets) – 06:30 to 13:00

Nelson Mandela Boulevard Onramp Hertzog Blvd Nelson Mandela Blvd 05:00 to 09:00

Buitengracht Street (Riebeek Street Inbound and Somerset Rd Inbound Intersection closed) 06:45 to 12:30

Sir Lowry / Victoria Rd Inbound Lanes (between Salt River Road and Searle Street  - 04:30 to 09:20

Liesbeek Parkway/Malta Road (between Station Road and Lower Main Road) -  06:00 to 11:45

Albert Road (between Salt River Circle and Lower Church Street)- 05:00 to12:00

Letterstedt / Claremont Boulevard (between Main Road and Hawthorne Road) – 04:00 to10:00

Campground Road (between Campground Rd / Pilland Road Circle and Park Road) – 06:15 to 11:00

Motorists are advised that no parking will be allowed on Long Street between Riebeek and Strand streets on the morning of the marathon.

Parking is also not allowed on Plein, St Johns and Hatfield Streets between Darling Street and Orange Street from 06:30 to 12:30.

Meanwhile, bus company, MyCiti says the marathon will significantly impact services over the weekend. It warned that services on several MyCiTi routes will either be cancelled or partially impacted.

On Saturday, Route 104 is cancelled from start of the service until 10:00

On Sunday, 15 October 2023:

Route 113 is cancelled for the entire day.

Routes 101, 111, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107 and 261 are cancelled from the start of service until 13:00.

The following stations on route T01 will be skipped in both directions from the start of service until 08:00: Thibault Square, Stadium, Granger Bay and Waterfront.

Route 104 is cancelled from the start of service until 08:00 on Sunday, 15 October. From 08:00 to 14:30, route 104 will turn short at Waterfront station and the following stops and stations will be skipped in both directions: Breakwater, Somerset Hospital, Granger, Mouille Point, Surrey, Lighthouse, Three Anchor Bay, Rocklands, Promenade, London, Graaf's Pool, Boat Bay, Sea Point Pool, Cassel and Queens Beach.

Routes 108 and 109 are cancelled from the start of service until 08:00. From 08:00 to 13:00, routes 108 and 109 will skip the following stops: Upper Portswood, Gallows Hill and Alfred.