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2026 Philadelphia Cycling Classic Street Closures, Parking, and SEPTA Information

Writer: Philadelphia Cycling Classic
Philadelphia Cycling Classic
Aug 24
5 min read

Updated: Aug 27


Road closures 


Thursday, August 27 

The inner lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20th Street to Eakins Oval will close in both directions beginning Thursday, August 27 at 9 a.m. These lanes are expected to reopen following the race on Sunday, August 30, before 10 p.m.

The north outer outbound lane is expected to reopen early Thursday morning after the existing orange barriers are moved to the side of the road.

The outer lanes in both directions will remain open until approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, except for the outer inbound lane from Eakins Oval to 22nd Street, which will close beginning Friday, August 28 at approximately 9 a.m.


Saturday, August 29 

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will be closed from Eakins Oval to Falls Bridge on Saturday,  August 29, beginning at 8 a.m. for the 8-mile Philadelphia Cycling Classic Amateur Time Trial.

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will continue with its weekend closure schedule and remain closed to vehicle traffic until Monday, Aug. 31. 

Sedgley Drive between Girard Avenue and Poplar Drive will be closed on Saturday.  August 29, beginning at 12 p.m. and will remain closed until the conclusion of the event. 


Sunday, August 30

All closures listed below are in effect from approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, to 10 p.m. on Sunday, August 30, unless otherwise noted:

Parkway area closures 

  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 17th Street to Eakins Oval (all lanes)   

  • Eakins Oval (all lanes)   

  • I-676 Off-Ramp at 22nd Street  

  • I-676 On-Ramp at 22nd Street  

  • I-76 eastbound Off-Ramp at Spring Garden Street  

  • Spring Garden Tunnel  

  • Rear of Art Museum – Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive (access maintained for PMA staff)  

  • 1900 Race Street   

  • 1800-1900 Vine Street   

  • Park Towne Place between 22nd Street and 24th Street   

  • 2000-2100 Winter Street   

  • Spring Garden Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and 31st Street 

  • All roads from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street, 18th Street to 22nd Street (local access maintained for residents)


Philadelphia Museum of Art access: Access to the museum will be maintained via the Spring Garden Street Tunnel, located off Pennsylvania Avenue, and the Spring Garden Street Bridge, which connects West Philadelphia. Museum visitors will be able to access the parking garage and parking lot. Officers will be stationed along Spring Garden Street to ensure that only Philadelphia Museum of Art employees and patrons are permitted entry.


Fairmount Park closures

  • Kelly Drive (all lanes)

  • Waterworks Drive

  • Reservoir Drive

  • Lemon Hill

  • Sedgley Drive between Girard Avenue and Kelly Drive

  • Poplar Drive between Girard Avenue and Kelly Drive

  • MLK Drive from Falls Bridge to Eakins Oval 


Manayunk and Roxborough area closures 

  • Ridge Avenue between Kelly Drive and Hermit Street  

  • Main Street between Ridge Avenue and Green Lane  

  • Levering Street between Main Street and Tower Street  

  • Cresson Street between Levering Street and Cotton Street  

  • Lyceum Avenue between Tower Street and Mitchell Street 

  • Pechin Street between Green Lane and Roxborough Avenue  

  • Roxborough Avenue between Mitchell Street and Terrace Street 

  • Manayunk Ave between Roxborough Avenue and Osborn Street  

  • Rector Street between Terrace Street and Pechin Street  

  • Pensdale Street between Terrace Street and Lauriston Street  

  • Kingsley Street between Manayunk Avenue and Lauriston Street 

  • Salaignac Street between Manyunk Avenue and Lauriston Street 

  • Terrace Street between Dawson Street and Ridge Avenue  

  • Vassar Street from Ridge Avenue to Cresson Street  

  • Mitchell Street from Connaroe Street to Martin Street  

  • Additional streets include: Unit blocks of Shurs Lane, Jamestown Street,  Pensdale Street, Roxborough Avenue, Grape Street, Levering Street, Gay Street,  Connaroe Street, Carson Street, Rector Street, Cotton Street, Connaroe Street,  and 300 block of Burnside Street  


Note:

  • All cross traffic will be open as conditions allow.  

  • The entire length of Kelly Drive will be completely closed to all traffic and  parking.  

  • There will be no vehicle access to Lemon Hill, Mount Pleasant, and Ormiston Mansions. Residents of these houses will not be permitted to drive vehicles on  roads of the race course after 5 AM.  

  • There will be no vehicle access to the Dairy and Edgely ball fields.  

  • Vehicles (including bicycles) will not be permitted to enter the park at Dauphin  Drive.  

  • Vehicles entering at Diamond Drive will be given access up to Reservoir Drive  only.  

  • Vehicles entering the park at Oxford Drive will be permitted as far as Smith  Playground only.  

  • Sedgley Drive will be closed at Girard Avenue. Brewery Hill Drive will be  closed at Girard Avenue.  

  • Poplar Drive (Girard Avenue traffic) will be closed at Poplar Street, with all traffic  directed east on Poplar Street.  

  • There will be no access to the Park from Hunting Park Avenue, the Roosevelt Expressway or Midvale Avenue. 

  • There will be no parking on Waterworks Drive, or Lemon Hill.


Delays can be expected and motorists are advised to avoid the area by using alternate routes, and allow for extra driving time in the areas near the race course before and  during the race. Please refrain from double-parking, which creates congestion, limits traffic flow, and is illegal.


No Parking Zones


During the Philadelphia Cycling Classic, the following blocks will be in the “No Parking Zone”, and all vehicles must be relocated beginning 8 a.m. on Friday, August 28. Any vehicles remaining on site during this time will be towed:

  • Lyceum/Levering Avenue from Cresson Street to Pechin Street

  • Manayunk Avenue from Ridge Avenue to Roxborough Avenue

  • Pechin Street from Lyceum Avenue to Roxborough Avenue

  • Roxborough Avenue from Pechin Street to Manayunk Avenue 


All vehicles must be relocated from the full race course beginning at 3 a.m. on Sunday, August 30. Any vehicles remaining on site during this time will be towed.


Public Transportation

Due to race-related street closures, SEPTA Routes 7, 9, 27, 32, 33, 38, 43, 48, 49, 52, 60, 61, 65, 82, 124/125, K will be detoured from its normal routes through Kelly Drive, Manayunk and Roxborough area beginning at 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 30. Specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at www.septa.org.


SEPTA travel tips:

  • The Ben Franklin Parkway is best accessed from the 15th Street Market Frankford Line (L) Station and Race-Vine or City Hall Broad Street (B) Line Station.  

  • Those traveling on Regional Rail will want to exit at Suburban Station.

  • If you’re taking PATCO into Philadelphia from New Jersey, riders can take the B to travel to the race. Exit PATCO at 12th-13th Street Station. Head north on S 13th Street toward St. James Street, then left onto Walnut Street. SEPTA’s Walnut-Locust Station is on the corner of Broad & Walnut streets.  

  • Visit the Fares section for fare and SEPTA Key information  

  • Download the SEPTA App for iPhone and Android devices. Visit the Google Play or Apple App Store and look for the official SEPTA App.

  • View alerts, advisories and detours across the system. To get the latest service news, call Customer Service at 215-580-7800 or follow SEPTA @SEPTA.  


Spectators are encouraged to use public transportation when attending the event. The best way to get to the race is to take Septa, ride your bike, or walk. There will be no parking provided.


To get the latest service news, call Customer Service at 215-580-7800 or follow SEPTA @SEPTA.

The Philly PHLASH

Ride the free PHLASH shuttle to Manayunk on race day.


Starting at 9 a.m., spectators can take the PHLASH from Stop 9, located a short distance from the Fan Fest and Lemon Hill viewing areas at the corner of Pennsylvania and Fairmount Avenues, to the corner of Ridge and Lyceum in Manayunk. The last pickup will occur in Manayunk at 4:00 p.m. Riders boarding the PHLASH bus at either stop will not need tickets.


Visit ridephillyphlash.com for the full operating schedule and real-time ride tracking.

 
 
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