Mersey Tunnel 10km: Start time and planned closures

A tunnel in Merseyside will be partially closed for several hours on Sunday as an annual running event marks its 20th year.

Traffic heading from Liverpool to Wirral via the Kingsway Tunnel will be rerouted into the Wirral to Liverpool tube on 12 April, as one side of the tunnel closes for the Mersey Tunnel 10k race.

Liverpool to Wirral traffic will be routed into the eastbound side of the tunnel, where a temporary two-way system will be in place.

Other roads along the route - Oakdale Road, Dock Road, Birkenhead Road, Victoria Place, Seacombe View and Marine Promenade/ Tower Promenade - will be closed at various points from 07:00 - 11:45 BST.

The sold-out race marks its second decade this weekend, after being re-introduced in the city centre in 2006.

The 2026 event on Sunday will host a record number of entries from across Europe, organisers have said.

The race day is the only time throughout the year when the Kingsway Tunnel is opened for crossing on foot – with runners guided through the tunnel and under the River Mersey - which runs between Liverpool and Wirral.

Prior to the official race, a social 5km run will be happening in the city centre on Saturday 11 April setting off at 10:00 from the Canvas Athletic store in Cleveland Square. To participate in the 5km runners must register in advance.

• The 10km course will start at 9:30 on Sunday from Blackstock Street - which is around 250 metres before the Kingsway Tunnel emergency access road.

• A baggage drop will open from 7:30 to 9:10 at the start-line on Sunday. It will then be relocated for collection at the finish line.

• Runners are asked to collect their race numbers from either Canvas Athletics in Cleveland Square from 10:30 on Saturday - or from the race office from 07:30 on the morning of the event.

• Toilets will be open from 7:30 at the start-line and will be placed at regular intervals throughout the course, along with drink stations.

• After setting off from Blackstock Street, runners will then follow a route towards the tunnel. The entrance will mark the 1km point in the route, with the marker points for 2km and 3km positioned within the tunnel.

• Runners will emerge from the tunnel via the emergency exit on the left hand side, before the toll booths, before looping along Oakdale Road past the 4km mark to Dock Road. The 5km point - and water station - will be at the car park behind the Mersey Ferry terminal on Birkenhead Road.

• The route then follows Birkenhead Road before opening into a 4km stretch along the Promenade ahead of the finish line on Ian Fraser Walk, in New Brighton.

• The Wallasey Tunnel will be operational throughout the day on Sunday as despite a tube closure, a temporary two-way traffic system will be put in place, to allow oncoming Liverpool traffic to use the eastbound section of the tunnel.

• Drivers using the tunnel to get from Wirral to Liverpool will be able to enter as normal, but one lane within the tube will be closed for oncoming traffic as a two-way system is enforced temporarily.

• In Liverpool, traffic around Bevington Bush will be held for approximately 15 minutes at 9:30 while runners make their way into the tunnel emergency slip road, Liverpool City Council has said.

• Oakdale Road will be closed from Geneva Road to Dock Street from 08:00 - 11:30.

• Dock Road will be closed from Gorsey Lane / Duke Street to Tower Road from 07:30 - 11:30. Access will be enabled westbound from Tower Road.

• Birkenhead Road will be closed from Dock Street to Victoria Place from 08:00 - 11:30.

• Victoria Place will be closed from Birkenhead Road to Seacombe Promenade from 08:00 - 11:30.

• Seacombe View will be closed entirely from 08:00 - 11:30.

• Marine Promenade / Tower Promenade will be closed from Pavilion Roundabout to Tollemache Street from 07:00 - 11:45.

• Liverpool Lime Street is the closest main line train station to the start line - and is around 25 minutes away on foot.

• The nearest local train station is Moorfields on the Liverpool loop line. The start line is a 15 minute walk from the station.

• After the race the New Brighton train station is a short walk from the finish line and trains back to Liverpool will be running every 30 minutes.

• No event day parking is available at Marine Point Retail Park, and parking regulations are in force, race organisers have said.

• Drivers are recommended to use parking bays along the Marine promenade, King's Parade and Coastal Drive.

• There is also car parking available on the adjacent side streets next to Blackstock Street - but not on the street itself.

• The nearest secure car parking to Blackstock Street is at the NCP on the south side of Pall Mall.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.