Join thousands of athletes, runners, walkers and families for the spring kick-off event to Puget Sound’s running season at the Rotary’s 44th annual half marathon on March 20. Funds raised support awareness for colon cancer prevention and for local and international Rotary endorsed charities.

The event will cause some temporary road closures and traffic delays, as four different run or walk events will take place throughout the morning on the streets of Town Center, the North Mercer neighborhood, North Mercer Way, East Mercer Way, West Mercer Way and the I-90 trail.

Mercer Island Police, Rotary course marshals and volunteers will provide traffic control throughout the day. Signs will clearly denote detours and areas of temporary traffic delays. Bicyclists and drivers are asked to comply with race officials’ requests.

Note the following streets and approximate times that traffic will be impacted:

• Southeast 24th Street between 78th Avenue Southeast and 84th Avenue Southeast will be closed both ways from 8 a.m. to noon.

• 81st Avenue Southeast will be closed at North Mercer Way from 7:45 a.m. to noon.

• Southeast 26th Street at the Island Crest Way ramp will be closed 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• The 2600 block of 84th Ave. SE to Luther Burbank will be closed from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

• North Mercer Way from South Luther Burbank Park to Gallagher Hill will be closed intermittently from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Local traffic only.

• Shorewood Drive at 90th Avenue Southeast will be closed intermittently from 8:50 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

• Gallagher Hill at Southeast 40th Street will be closed from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

• Southbound East Mercer Way from Southeast 36th Street to Southeast 70th Place will be closed from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

• Northbound West Mercer Way will be closed at Southeast 24th Street from 9 a.m. to noon. There will also be intermittent closures at this intersection as the race passes.

• Westbound Southeast 24th Street at 66th Avenue Southeast will be closed from 10 a.m. to noon.

• The West Mercer Way off-ramp will be closed from 8 a.m. to noon.

There will be other intermittent closures at intersections along West Mercer Way and near the Park and Ride as the race passes. Residents are advised to use Island Crest Way for north/south travel if possible, and if they must, use East, West, or North Mercer Way to travel in a counterclockwise direction to minimize delays.

The events begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at noon. Go to www.mercerislandhalf.com for more.