The tunnel will be closed to traffic for several hours
The tunnel will be closed to traffic for several hours
Roads around the Kingsway Tunnel will be closed for several hours today as a major event returns to the city. More than 2,000 runners are set to pace through the Wallasey Tunnel on Sunday, April 13, in the 19th staging of Born To Run’s Mersey Tunnel 10k.
The point-to-point race is the only time throughout the year when people can make their way through the ‘new tunnel’ on foot.
While many runners see the opportunity as a rare experience because of this, others use it as preparation for the London and Manchester Marathons at the end of the month.
The Mersey Tunnel 10K was reintroduced to the Merseyside sporting calendar back in 2006, and after a break in 2020 because of the global pandemic, it made a return in 2022.
This year’s race starts just yards from the emergency Tunnel exit road on Bevington Bush on the Liverpool side of the River Mersey.
It then drops directly down onto the main approach road, delivering a fast descent into the Kingsway Tunnel.
The Tunnel takes runners on a journey of just over 3K before exiting on the Wirral side of the river. At the halfway point, the course makes its way along Dock Road and the Seacombe Ferry terminal.
The second half of the race takes runners along the promenade overlooking the River Mersey, showing off the impressive Liverpool skyline at its best.
The race finishes on Ian Fraser Walk at New Brighton, where runners will collect their commemorative finishers’ medal and technical fabric running T-shirt.
As it doesn’t loop back on itself, baggage buses transfer racers’ belongings to the finish area once the race begins. Although entry for the race has sold out, five other BTR races are still accepting runners.
Over the remaining months of the year, Liverpool and the Wirral will be transformed into a runner’s paradise, with distances to suit all abilities.
Some of the routes carved out, by BTR, showcase some of the region’s most iconic landmarks, including the city’s waterfront, Stanley Park and West Kirby Marine Lake.
Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting out, there’s an event for everyone, from fun runs to half marathons. You can read more about the key races still yet to take place here.