CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The annual Okinawa Marathon will create some traffic delays and gate closures on bases here Sunday.

According to 18th Wing Public Affairs, gates 2 and 5 on Kadena Air Base will be closed to vehicle traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. as runners pass through the base. The gates will remain open to pedestrian traffic.

The marathon also will run alongside several Marine bases, causing the closure of Camp Foster’s Master Sergeant’s Gate, limited entry and exit from the base’s Building One Gate, and left turns only from the Exchange and Plaza gates from 10:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., according to a news release.

Also, there will be limited access to the main gate to Camp McTureous from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. and left turns only from then until 2 p.m.

Several roads on Kadena will be closed to traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., including Kuter Boulevard from Gate 2 to Vincent Avenue; Vincent from Kuter to Schreiber Boulevard; and Schreiber from Kuter to Gate 5.

There will be only two authorized vehicle routes into and out of the area, the release said. Vehicles will be allowed to cross at the intersection of Vincent on Rickenbacker Street and at the intersection of Vincent on Beeson Street.

Runners will enter Kadena through Gate 2 on Kuter, turn left onto Vincent at Chapel 2, turn left on Schreiber at Kadena High School, and exit the base through Gate 5.

According to the 18th Wing notice, runners will have priority and wait times may be as long as 20 minutes to cross the affected streets. Pedestrians will be authorized to cross the marathon route only at the crosswalks at Main Street Food Court, the USO, and behind the Officers Club.

Outside the air base, the marathon is expected to disrupt traffic throughout central Okinawa, from Kitanakagusuku in the south to Agena in the north.

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