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Drivers in the Potomac Yard area should plan around a two-hour window of road closures Sunday morning as hundreds of runners take over several streets for the annual Active for Autism 5K, the Alexandria Police Department announced Saturday.
The closures will begin at 7:40 a.m. Sunday, April 19, and are expected to lift by 9:40 a.m., according to a department advisory.
Potomac Avenue will be closed in both directions between Reed Avenue and Richmond Highway, also known as Route 1. Main Line Boulevard will be shut down southbound from Potomac Avenue to the dead end behind 1005 Mount Vernon Ave.
Drivers heading southbound on Main Line Boulevard will still be able to turn right onto Route 1 at Potomac Avenue, police said. Officials urged motorists to build extra time into their morning plans, anticipate delays and seek alternate routes while the race is underway.
The 5K and accompanying Kids Dash, which start at George Washington Middle School, benefit the Arlington-based Organization for Autism Research and its efforts to apply research to the everyday challenges of autism. The event is held each April in recognition of Autism Acceptance Month and includes both in-person and virtual participants, with runners from outside the area dedicating their miles to the cause.
As of Saturday afternoon, the race had raised more than $56,500 toward its $60,000 fundraising goal, according to the event website. Top individual fundraiser Maria Kazmi had brought in more than $3,600, while the team Rafeh led all squads with nearly $4,000 raised.
Online registration has closed, but organizers said walk-up registration will be available Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at packet pickup at Potomac River Running in Ballston Quarter, and again Sunday from 7 to 7:30 a.m. at the race start area.
