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(EASTON, November 1, 2024) Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC) will be hosting the St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest on Sunday, November 10, 2024 with signature sponsor, St. Luke’s University Health Network. This four-race event consists of a full marathon, as well as a marathon relay, half marathon run, and half marathon walk. Nearly 2,000 racers are registered to participate in this second annual RaceFest.
The half marathon run and walk will start at 7:30 a.m. at Main and Walnut streets in downtown Bethlehem. The marathon and marathon relay will start at 8 a.m. in the 800 block of Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown. Both races finish in Easton on Larry Holmes Drive at Scott Park.
The St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest courses span across the Lehigh Valley’s three biggest cities – Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton. While a majority of the course is on the D&L Trail to minimize traffic impacts and provide beautiful, natural views for racers, residents can expect delays and a series of road closures starting in the early morning on race day, Sunday, November 10.
Allentown
Hamilton Street, between 9th and 7th streets – Closed from 4 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Hamilton Street, between 7th and 4th streets – Closed from 7 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
4th Street between Hamilton and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive – Closed from 7 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive east of St. Elmo Street and all intersections with it – Closed from 7 a.m. – 10 a.m.
*** Use 15th Street or 8th Street bridges to cross over Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive during this time ***
Lehigh Parkway East across Schrieber’s Bridge and Kline’s Bridge onto Lehigh Parkway North at Lehigh Parkway – Closed from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Union Street between S. 4th and over Hamilton Street Bridge (north lane) – Closed from 7 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
N. Albert Street into Canal Park – Closed from 7 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Bethlehem
Main Street between Broad Street and Walnut Street – Closed from 4:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Main Street between Walnut Street and Sand Island – Closed from 6:30 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Spring, Conestoga and Lehigh streets around Daniel E. Rice Memorial Plaza – Closed from 7:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
River Street (Sand Island) – Closed from 7:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (intermittent after 7:45 a.m.)
Bethlehem Township
Hope Road south from Freemansburg Ave., including the Boat Launch – Closed from 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Palmer Township / West Easton
Lehigh Drive near Riverview Park – Intermittent closures between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Lehigh Drive at the Glendon Hill bridge to Hugh Moore Park and the bridge into Hugh Moore Park — Intermittent closures between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Easton
PA-611 between S. Third Street and E. Nesquehoning Street – Closed from 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Larry Holmes Drive between S. Third Street and Northampton Street – Closed from 4 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
There will also be multiple closures along the D&L Trail throughout the duration of the event. D&L Trailheads along miles 75 in Allentown through 59 in Easton of the D&L Trail will be difficult, sometimes impossible, for non-race trail users to access. Full access to the D&L Trail will return once the final marathoner passes each trailhead from west to east, by about 11:30 a.m. in Lehigh County and by about 2 p.m. in Northampton County. For more information about closures along the D&L Trail, visit delawareandlehigh.org/map/.
D&L Trailheads closed or limited on Race Day
Allentown Canal Park, Mile Marker 75 (Albert St closed to access Trailhead)
Sand Island, Bethlehem, Mile Marker 71 (River St intermittent closures)
Freemansburg access points, Mile Marker 68
Nagy’s Landing and Farmersville Road, Bethlehem Township, Mile Marker 66
Route 33 Boat Launch, Mile Marker 64 (Hope Rd closed to access Trailhead)
Riverview Park, Palmer Township, Mile Marker 62 (Lehigh Drive intermittent closures)
Hugh Moore Park, Mile Marker 61 (Bridge into park intermittent closures)
Forks of the Delaware in Easton, Mile Marker 59 (PA-611 closed to access Trailhead)
St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest is a major fundraiser for DLNHC. Proceeds from the event will go toward heritage education programs and the ongoing development and stewardship of the D&L Trail and its connection through the Lehigh Valley. Once fully connected, the D&L Trail is set to be the longest multi-use trail in Pennsylvania, stretching over 165 miles from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol. Over the past decade, the D&L Trail has acted as a significant conduit for economic growth and development to the towns and communities that surround it. A fully connected trail will only heighten this impact, bringing new people and opportunities to the Lehigh Valley and surrounding regions.
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that preserves the historic pathway that carried coal and iron from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol. Through key programs like the D&L Trail, St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest, National Canal Museum, and Get Your Tail on the Trail, DLNHC connects people to nature, culture, communities, recreation, and our industrial heritage. For more information, visit delawareandlehigh.org.
Information provided to TVL by:
Gianna Caruso | Communications Coordinator
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Inc.
delawareandlehigh.org | canals.org
