Belfast Marathon 2025: Everything you need to know about traffic and travel as event gets underway

Belfast Telegraph

04-05-2025

The 26.2-mile challenge kicked off at the Stormont Estate, passing through the north, south, east and west of the city, before finishing in Ormeau Park.
As a result, motorists can expect some disruption throughout the morning and early afternoon.
Roads started to close wholly or partially at various parts of the city from around 6am and will continue until 4pm.
Once all runners have passed points on the route, marathon organisers have promised the reopening of the roads will be managed as quickly as possible.
John Allen, chairman of the Belfast City Marathon organising committee, said: 'We are delighted to welcome over 22,000 participants to the streets of Belfast come Sunday 4th May – participants of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
"This year's Bank Holiday weekend will see the biggest marathon in our 43-year history, with 6,500 runners taking on the 26.2-mile challenge. 2,750 relay teams and 1,200 8 mile walkers will join in to soak up in the marathon atmosphere, making it Northern Ireland's biggest mass sport participatory event.
'We would like to extend a huge thank you to the local community for their patience throughout the event, and of our volunteers who will generously donate their time and play a key role in making the event 'run' smoothly.
"We appreciate the impact and inconvenience of traffic disruption on race day but ask that motorists please follow the traffic diversion signs and take direction from stewards. These traffic management measures are set up to prioritise safety for participants and road users.'
The 2025 Moy Park Belfast City Marathon route is similar to the 2024 route, although there are some slight changes.
The route has minor alterations at the City Hall, this year remaining on Chichester Street, directly onto Wellington Place before turning left onto Fisherwick Place and continuing on the route.
A further change takes place on the Falls Road, turning left onto North Howard Street, left onto Cupar Way, right onto Lanark Way, right onto the Shankill Road, left onto Tennent Street, across the Crumlin Road onto Hillview Road and left onto the Oldpark Road and continuing the route.
Roads affected and predicted time of closures, and projected participant times are listed below:
The area around Stormont and Upper Newtownards Road will be closed to through traffic between approximately 6am – 11am, as the runners make their way towards Beersbridge, Castlereagh and Montgomery Road areas.
A full road closure will then be in place on the Ravenhill Road (Albertbridge Road to Ormeau Embankment) from 7am – 12noon.
Some disruption can be expected in the city centre approximately between 8.30am – 1pm with full road closures in place on Chichester Street, Wellington Place, May Street, Donegall Square and Howard Street areas.
Some further disruption can be expected on the Boucher Road (Tates Avenue to Stockmans Lane) with a full road closure between 8am – 2pm approximately, as runners make their way onto Lislea Drive and Lisburn Road, marking their marathon halfway point.
Another point where disruption can be expected is in the Andersonstown Road and Falls Road areas with lane closures and full road closures in place from approximately 9.30am – 2.30pm.
Full road closures will be in place at approximately 9.30am – 3pm from North Howard Street, Cupar Way, Lanark Way, Shankill Road, Tennent Street and Oldpark Road.
Full road closures will also be in place from approximately 9:30am – 3.30pm in Antrim Road areas with a Team Relay changeover point taking place on Duncairn Gardens.
Some disruption again in the city centre as runners take on the final stretch of the marathon from Donegall Quay ontoOxford Street and Lanyon Place (full road closure 9.30am – 3.30pm). Runners will make their way up Ormeau Road to the Rosetta Roundabout and complete their journey down Ravenhill Road, onto Ormeau Embankment for the finish at the Ozone Tennis Centre, Ormeau Park.
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Free shuttle buses are available for anyone running the marathon or spectating, the buses available are listed below:
Getting to the start line - a shuttle bus will be available from Belfast City Hall (outside SS Moore's) 07:00am – 8:00am and Lanyon Place Train Station 7:30am – 8:00am to the Start Line.
Spectator transport from Stormont - a shuttle bus will pick spectators from Massey Avenue to Ormeau Park after the start of the race at Stormont.
Team relay transport – a shuttle bus service will run 8:00am – 10:00am from Annadale Embankment at Dunnes Stores to drop runners off at their designated relay changeover point:
Getting back to Belfast city centre - a shuttle bus will transport participants from Ormeau Embankment to Belfast city centre. This service will run from 11:45am – 4:00pm.
Getting back to Stormont – a complimentary Glider service is available from SS Moore's Chichester Street or Wellington Street to Stormont. This service will run until 4:30pm, every 15 minutes. Please note that Stormont car parks will close from 5:00pm.
For those driving into Belfast for the marathon, parking will be available at the start line within the Stormont Complex for free.
However, organisers said the Upper Newtownards Road from the Stormont entrance will close from around 8am to facilitate traffic management solutions for the start of the event. Access will be from the Dundonald side only.
There are also bag drop facilities available at Carson's Statue and at the Prince of Wales Gates at Stormont.
Both bag drop facilities will close sharp at 8:15am.
Any bags left after this time will not be transported to the finish line.
Please leave your bag securely tied / closed, clearly displaying your race number (label) for easy identification.
While waiting for the race to begin you may want to wear jacket/top.
Unfortunately, this cannot be transported to the finish line or returned to participants but there will be clothing recycling banks located near Carson's Statue.
Should you wish to donate your garment, this will be in aid of the event's designated charity partner, Air Ambulance NI and Moy Park Belfast City Women's 10k and 5k Fun Run Charity Partner Cancer Focus NI.