Cap City – Columbus braces for major road closures around the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon on April 24–25. Here’s the schedule drivers need.
Columbus drivers should plan for delays as the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon returns on April 24–25.
Race weekend always changes the rhythm of downtown streets. and this year’s event is expected to draw 10. 000-plus participants to the course on April 25.. The OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon will bring multiple road closures. with the most disruptive restrictions beginning in the morning and then easing in stages as runners clear the route.
Organizers begin preparing the course early, so the first closures start the evening of April 24. From 5 p.m. April 24 to 2 p.m. April 25, the following roads will be closed:
High Street between Broad and Main streets
West Town Street between West Front and South High streets
East Town Street between South 3rd and Damian streets
East Rich Street between Wall and South 3rd streets
Those closures are followed by additional changes that begin later on April 24 and continue into the next day. The road restrictions below will be in effect from 5 to 6 p.m. April 24, with reopenings scheduled between 4 and 6 p.m. April 25:
Town Street between 3rd and Damian streets
Town Street between High and Wall streets
High Street between Main and State streets
High Street between State and Broad streets
Rich Street between Wall and North 3rd streets
On April 25, the pace of disruption moves faster—closures start between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m.. That morning window matters for commuters and anyone trying to cross downtown before the race fully settles into motion.. Streets and avenues expected to be affected include High. Spring. Broad. Front. Goodale. Vine. and Park; Neil and Lane avenues; Nationwide Boulevard; along with cross streets used for the course.
A key detail for planning is that closures don’t all start at once.. They come online during race operations and then lift as the field advances.. Organizers say many roads will reopen on a rolling basis between 9:30 and 11:45 a.m.. As runners move through, the city effectively reclaims blocks street-by-street rather than all at once.
Even after the main flow of closures begins to relax, some restrictions can remain longer than expected. Portions of High Street will stay closed for the 5K until about 12:30 p.m. April 25, which means midday trips may still run into detours depending on where you’re headed.
What drivers should do April 24–25
The best approach for commuters is simple: assume routes near downtown will be slow. and build in extra time for detours during the 7:30–11:45 a.m.. period on April 25.. If you must travel through the affected corridors. consider leaving earlier than usual or using alternate streets not tied to the course.
There’s also a practical pattern race weekends follow. Areas around the course often become less predictable as barriers, traffic officers, and event staff manage flow at key intersections. That can make “shortcuts” turn into dead ends, so it’s safer to plan a route in advance and stick to it.
Why these closures matter beyond traffic
Half marathons may look like a weekend festival from the sidelines. but for the city they act like a temporary reconfiguration of everyday life.. With thousands of runners—plus spectators and support vehicles—moving through central Columbus. road closures protect the race route and help keep emergency access clear.
For residents and local businesses, the tradeoff is real.. Downtown foot traffic tends to increase, but so do disruptions for customers trying to reach stores, restaurants, or appointments.. Planning now—especially around the early-morning start window—can make the difference between a smooth commute and a day that feels unnecessarily complicated.
If you’re coordinating travel for family, work, or events over the weekend, treat the race schedule as a public-safety timeline as much as a sports event. Road restrictions are typically lifted progressively as runners pass, but they can linger around start-line and finish-line areas.
Event planning tips for the rest of the day
When streets reopen in stages between 9:30 and 11:45 a.m., it doesn’t always mean everything is “back to normal” immediately. Late departures can still run into partial closures—especially around High Street where the 5K continues until about 12:30 p.m.
For anyone attending the event in person, it’s also worth remembering that parking and drop-off points can change as road closures go live. Give yourself time to move on foot once you’re near the affected zones, and avoid last-minute turns into areas that may already be blocked.
For updates and race details, Misryoum recommends checking the latest information provided by the event ahead of time so your route matches the most current closure map.