Seven Old Greenwich streets would go one-way for up to three hours on a Sunday morning in late September if the Board of Selectmen approves a road-closure request at its Thursday, Aug. 27, meeting.
The Greenwich Road Runners Club asked the board to temporarily restrict traffic on Shore Road, Sound Beach Avenue, Raymond Street, Park Avenue, Lockwood Avenue, Harding Street and Tomac Avenue for the inaugural HSS Greenwich Half Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 27, according to Patch. The race would start at 7 a.m. at Greenwich Point Park, with the last runner expected back by 10 a.m.
Christopher Dawson, director of Greenwich Road Runners, and race director John Bysiewicz presented the plan to selectmen ahead of the vote.
What drivers should expect
The restrictions would convert affected streets to one-way traffic during the race window:
- Sound Beach Avenue: Southbound traffic only, 7–9:15 a.m. (northbound lane reserved for runners)
- Tomac Avenue and Harding Street: Northbound traffic only, 7–9:30 a.m. (southbound lane reserved for runners)
- Shore Road: Eastbound traffic only, 7–10 a.m. (westbound lane reserved for runners)
Two-way traffic would resume on each street as runners clear the area. Specific directional restrictions for Raymond Street, Park Avenue and Lockwood Avenue have not been publicly detailed.
New route affects fewer households, organizers say
Bysiewicz told selectmen the course was drawn to affect fewer households than a previous half marathon route used between 2010 and 2019 and again in 2023.
"That impacted over 600 more households. That might have had an impact on 1,500 more people than our route would currently have," Bysiewicz said. "We tried to make it as low impact on the community as possible, impacting a lot fewer families by not going into Riverside."
Organizers plan to hand-deliver notices to residents along the course and post signage about a week before race day. Bysiewicz said runners should clear Sound Beach Avenue by 9 a.m., leaving time for residents heading to 10 a.m. Mass at nearby churches.
First Selectman Fred Camillo said he appreciated the effort to minimize disruption and suggested electronic signage could alert drivers to the restrictions. In his weekly newsletter, Camillo noted that "business owners have expressed some concern" about the closures but did not elaborate.
Race details and fundraising
Organizers expect 800 to 1,000 runners, with a similar number of spectators. More than 500 runners and volunteers are expected from Greenwich, with another 350 from elsewhere in Connecticut and 300 from 13 states and Washington, D.C.
Proceeds could exceed $20,000, according to Dawson, benefiting Kids in Crisis and other local nonprofits. The selectmen asked organizers to provide a full list of beneficiary organizations before the Aug. 27 vote.
The road-closure request is also under review by Greenwich Police and Greenwich Parks & Recreation.
