702 Walk the Talk: Important road closure information

THE 702 Walk the Talk, Joburg’s biggest and best-loved walking event, is just around the corner and 702 will be pulling out all the stops to ensure the event runs smoothly. This will include implementing several road closures on the day.

On Sunday, July 24, over 50 000 walkers will converge on Marks Park Sports Club in Judith Road, Emmarentia, the start and end point for this year’s 702 Walk the Talk.

Three different walks with staggered starting times will take place on the day.

A 15km race walk will start at 07:00, the 8km starts from 09:00 and the 5km walk begins at 11:00.

To ensure the safety of all walkers, residents and motorists, a number of roads in and around Emmarentia will be closed to traffic on the day. Temporary road closures will be manned at points along the route.

The road closures will be managed to ensure minimal obstruction to traffic, and roads will be re-opened as soon as the intersection is clear of walkers.

Free, secure parking will be available at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, to be accessed off Thomas Bowler Avenue, from Beyers Naude Drive, on the day.

Participants are urged not to follow the directions of unauthorised car guards directing them to park in the road as they may be expected to pay and the event cannot ensure security in these areas.

A Park and Ride service is available to walkers from various points from R70 to R90 and can be booked on the Walk the Talk website. Only pre-ordered tickets will be valid.

Visit www.walkthetalk.co.za for a comprehensive list of road closures, as well as a detailed route map, to avoid the road closures.

Residents in the affected areas are asked to please familiarise themselves with the road closures (please note closure times are an estimation only).

The event organisers understand that without residents’ support, the walk could not be hosted, so each year a portion of the funds raised go towards community legacy projects in the areas directly affected.

With the money raised last year, the event organisers built an outdoor gym at the Emmarentia Botanical Gardens, which attracts visitors from across Gauteng, as well as a new dance floor at Dansazania, a community dance centre in Melville.

All queries relating to the 702 Walk the Talk and the associated road closures either before the event or on the day can be directed to the 702 Walk the Talk office call centre on 011 017 2700.

The 702 Walk the Talk is now in its 16th successful year. Permission has been granted by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department for the event, which has also been sanctioned by Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Mpho Parks Tau.

The City of Joburg is hosting the 702 Walk the Talk, and is a proud partner of the event, which showcases the city’s ability to stage sporting events of this stature.

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

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