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Toyama Marathon Faces Course Change to Reduce Traffic Problems

http://www.tulip-tv.co.jp/news/detail/?TID_DT03=20170512151125

translated by Brett Larner

Scheduled for Oct. 29 this year, the Toyama Marathon faces a partial course change in a bid to ease traffic problems caused by the race. The plan was announced at an organizing committee meeting on May 12. Until now the Toyama Marathon course has crossed Toyama Bridge and Jinzu Bridge on the way to the finish in Kansui Park, but the new course this year is proposed to cross Toyama Kita Bridge en route to the finish. The change will reduce the number of bridges that must be closed to traffic from two to one, and by eliminating the passage over Mt. Kureha it is also expected to result in faster times for participants.

Now in its third edition, the Toyama Marathon attracted 12,000 participants last year. For the first time it will be held the same day as the Kanazawa Marathon, meaning high occupancy for accommodations in the eastern part of Toyama prefecture. It was reported at the executive committee meeting that Tayama Railways will increase the number of trains running from Tomari Station to Toyama Station early in the morning on race day, Oct. 29.

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