Okinawa Marathon to affect traffic Sunday
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Due to the Okinawa marathon on Sunday, March 7, Gates 2 and 5 will be closed to vehicle traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Roads will be closed from Gate 2 on Kuter Blvd. to Vincent Avenue and from Vincent Avenue to Schreiber Blvd. and from Schreiber Blvd. to Gate 5. Both gates will remain open to pedestrians with identification and authorized base passes.
Runners will enter Kadena AB through Gate 2 on Kuter Blvd., turn left onto Vincent Avenue at Chapel 2, turn left on Schreiber Blvd. at Kadena High School, and exit the base through Gate 5.
The following facilities will be affected by the marathon:
- Chapel 2
- Kadena Library
- Shogun Inn
- Officers Club
- Kadena High School
- Bob Hope Primary School
- Amelia Earhart Intermediate School
- Dormitories along the route
- Family housing on Beeson Avenue
- The temporary lodging facility
- Visiting officers quarters
Residents living inside the on-base route should consider parking their vehicles outside the affected area if they plan to travel anywhere from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will only be two authorized vehicle egress routes into/out of the affected area.
Vehicle traffic will be allowed to cross at the intersection of Vincent Street on Rickenbacker Street and at the intersection of Vincent Street on Beeson Street.
Traffic will be regulated by Security Forces. Runners will have priority and wait times may be as long as 20 minutes to cross; please plan accordingly. Pedestrians will only be authorized to cross the marathon route at the Main Street Food Court crosswalk, the crosswalk at the USO, and the crosswalk behind the Officers Club to crossover Kuter Blvd. Direct traffic related questions or concerns to the 18th Security Forces Squadron at 634-1397.
Volunteers are needed to provide water or cheer on runners at stations along the base route inside Kadena. For volunteer sign-up or more information, e-mail hideaki.sakihama.jp@kadena.af.mil, or call at 634-1595.