Q. How do I get there? Where can I park?
A. The best way to get to the new bridge is to take a bus or an express shuttle, or walk. Car-pooling to bus and express service locations is strongly recommended.
Parking will not be permitted on the shoulders of Highway 16, and neighborhood parking restrictions will be enforced.
About 2,500 parking spaces will be available at Tacoma Community College and the Tacoma Narrows Airport, and shuttle buses will transport visitors to and from the bridge every 15 minutes. The free buses will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking at TCC and the airport will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Express service locations:
• Tacoma Community College, 6501 S. 19th St. in Tacoma.
• Tacoma Narrows Airport, 1202 26th Ave. N.W. in Gig Harbor.
Q. What should I bring?
A. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. It’s a two-mile walk across the bridge and back. Facilities for the event will be limited. Be prepared for hot weather. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
Q. What shouldn’t I bring?
A. Alcohol, fireworks, weapons, skates, in-line skates, skateboards, bicycles, scooters, large rolling coolers, large packages or other large items. There will be no storage for prohibited items, so the Transportation Department says leave them at home. The DOT says it won’t be responsible for lost or stolen items.
Q. Can I ride my bicycle to the event?
A. Bring your bike and park it at your own risk if you want, but bicycles will not be allowed on the bridge deck for most of the day. However, at approximately 3:45 p.m. there will be a ribbon-cutting specifically for the new bike and pedestrian lane on the south side of the bridge. At that time, a few cyclists will be able to make one quick trip across the bridge and back.
Q. Can I bring my pet?
A. No.
8 a.m.: 5K bridge run
9:30 a.m.: First toll ceremony. State Treasurer Mike Murphy and House Speaker Frank Chopp pay first toll, riding in 1929 Lincoln touring car that was first to cross both previous Narrows bridges.
10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Walk the bridge. Deck open for viewing, photos and ribbon cuttings. “I walked the bridge” passports available.
10:30 a.m.: Safety remembrance. A reminder that the bridge was built in part to improve safety. State Rep. Ruth Fisher, the late Sen. Bob Oke and others who helped make bridge possible will be honored.
1:30 p.m.: Workers’ ribbon-cutting. Gov. Chris Gregoire speaks briefly, and a dozen bridge workers cut official ribbon.
4 p.m.: Event ends, crews begin cleaning up and preparing to open bridge to traffic.
Q. Is it too late to sign up for the race?
A. Online registration (MultiCare.org or www.athleteslounge.com/events) ended at midnight Thursday. You can still register between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday at the Student Center at Tacoma Community College, 6501 S. 19th St., Tacoma. That’s the last chance. There will be no registration on race day.
Q. What’s the route?
A. From the Living War Memorial Park the 5K course descends along the eastbound Jackson Street offramp and then across the new bridge.
Around the one-mile mark, on the Gig Harbor side of the new span, runners will climb slightly to a turnaround point just east of the tollbooths, bringing them to the highest point in the race.
Then they’ll head back across the bridge to the finish on the Tacoma side.
Q. Are strollers or baby joggers allowed?
A. Baby joggers and strollers will be allowed at the back of the runners’ pack along North Jackson Street. Pets, bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates are not permitted.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.