With thousands of runners and spectators set to descend on Portsmouth for the Great South Run weekend, the city council and transport providers are urging visitors to plan their journeys in advance.
Drivers are being encouraged to make use of Portsmouth’s Park & Ride service, located at Junction 1 of the M275, to help reduce congestion around the city centre and seafront. A dedicated PR4 service will operate to Clarence Pier, running every 20 minutes on Saturday and every 10 minutes on Sunday.
Tickets can be purchased via the First Bus app or directly from the driver, but spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The regular PR1 route will also continue its usual service over the weekend.
Visitors are advised to check the First Bus and Stagecoach apps or websites before setting off, as some bus routes will be affected by temporary road closures for the event. As an added incentive, First Bus is offering free travel home for runners on Sunday 19 October who show their race medal to the driver, although this offer excludes the Hoverbus and Park & Ride services.
For those travelling from the Isle of Wight, Hovertravel will be running extra services on Sunday morning, with ferries departing every 15 minutes between 8.15am and 9.15am, plus an additional sailing at 9.45am. The regular half-hourly service between Ryde and Southsea will operate throughout the rest of the day.
Voi e-scooters and e-bikes will also be available across the city, and those travelling by train are advised to check with their operator for the latest timetables.
To keep runners and spectators safe, several roads including Duisburg Way, Avenue de Caen and Clarence Esplanade will be closed during the event. After 9.35am on Sunday, the final Park & Ride stop will be City Centre South until the roads reopen.
Event parking on Southsea Common will be available before 9.30am and after 1.30pm, while parking restrictions will apply on some nearby roads. Drivers are urged to check temporary signage and avoid restricted areas where vehicles could be towed.
Full details of all temporary road closures and restrictions can be found in the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/tro.
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