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121st Boston Marathon: What you need to know

BOSTON — Tens of thousands of runners will participate in this year’s Boston Marathon and about a half-million people will line the 26.2-mile route to cheer them on.

There are several things runners and spectators need to know, including a lit of prohibited items and street closures.

MARATHON MONDAY STREET CLOSURES:

  • 5 a.m.: Charles Street, adjacent to the Boston Common will close
  • 8 a.m.: All streets east of Massachusetts Avenue in the Back Bay (as well as the Mass Pike Exit 22) will close.
  • 9 a.m. All streets west of Massachusetts Avenue in the Kenmore Square Audubon Circle area will close.
  • 8:30 a.m.: All streets in the Brighton area leading to the route will close.

Boylston Street, from Berkely Street to Arlington Street closed at noon Sunday. The street will reopen at 8 p.m. Monday.

All other streets will re-open around 7 p.m.

For a complete list of road closures from the city of Boston, click here.

BANNED ITEMS:

Spectators heading into Boston or those cheering runners on along the route should remember that several items are banned including:

  • Weapons & fireworks
  • No backpacks, handbags or suitcases
  • No large blankets or sleeping bags
  • No coolers, glass or containers larger than one liter
  • No costumes or anything covering the face

MBTA ADVISORIES:

The running of the Boston Marathon will impact T and Commuter Rail service:

Copley Station on the Green Line will be closed for the entire day for the safety of customers. Riders should use Arlington (all branches), Prudential (E Branch), or Hynes Convention Center (B, C and D Branches) instead, or Back Bay on the Orange Line.

The following above-ground Green Line stations will be closed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday:

  • South Street (B Branch)
  • Kent Street (C Branch)
  • St. Mary's Street (C Branch)

For a complete list of T and Commuter Rail impacts, click here.

Boston Marathon 2017
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