There will be significant disruption throughout Greater Manchester next Sunday, 31st May, when tens of thousands of runners pound the city’s streets during the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run.

Runners have a choice of a 10K route through Salford, Trafford, and Manchester city centre, or a half-marathon stretching further east. Both runs will start in Portland Street, near the junction with Oxford Street, and finish in Deansgate.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) advises that throughout Sunday, there will be many road closures and extensive bus diversions. Anyone intending to travel in Manchester should allow extra time for their journeys, and to check before they travel whether their services are being affected or diverted.

The best option for travel will be trams, with many stops close to either the start line or key viewing points along the route. Travel by bus or tram is simple by using contactless ‘tap and go’. Also, the Bee Network app and website will provide up-to-date travel information to help in planning journeys.

With many runners, supporters, and visitors travelling into Manchester city centre, the event will inevitably create a high demand across the Bee Network, and to keep everybody moving, Transport for Greater Manchester will:

• Have extra staff on duty, especially at the busiest stops.
• Run more double trams.
• Work with Greater Manchester Police and other bus and tram operators to monitor and respond to situations as they occur.
• Work to lift road restrictions as soon as possible.
• Move cycle hire bikes to key locations.

This Sunday’s disruption will echo that in April during the Manchester Marathon and when Manchester City played Arsenal.

“The Great Manchester Run is always one of the highlights of the city’s events calendar, bringing a fantastic festival atmosphere to the streets of Manchester, Trafford and Salford. With tens of thousands of people expected to travel into the city region it will undoubtedly be a very busy day. We want to make sure everyone can take part in or enjoy the event, which is why we encourage people to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journey and check the latest travel information before setting off.”

Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Officer, TfGM