The ongoing Murray Street Bridge overhaul has been rerouting Santa Cruz County motorists since the spring, and now it’s forcing a detour for the Wharf to Wharf road race on July 27.
The 2025 running of the Wharf to Wharf – which traditionally takes its thousands of runners from the foot of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf to the foot of the Capitola Wharf – will start on Portola Drive in Live Oak, then head west toward the Santa Cruz Harbor before turning left at the Eaton Street-Lake Avenue intersection to rejoin its tradition course along East Cliff Drive toward Capitola Village.
“When we first learned that the bridge would be under construction, we were under the impression that it would involve only a one-lane closure,” organizers wrote in a Friday email to entrants. “However, in order to minimize the overall impact on traffic and nearby neighborhoods, it was ultimately decided that a full bridge closure would be the most efficient path forward to shorten the length of the project. While that was necessary for the community, it presented a significant obstacle for our traditional race route.”
Instead of the starting corrals along Beach Street leading up to the traditional starting line in front of the Cocoanut Grove, runners will now line up on Portola Drive between 26th Avenue and 38th Avenue. The course continues along Portola through where it joins East Cliff, around Schwan Lagoon to the edge of the harbor, turning before the Murray Street Bridge to reconnect with the traditional route.
The final 4 miles will remain the same, organizers said, with live bands enlivening the course throughout as in previous years.
“We are incredibly grateful to our community partners who helped make this year’s event possible,” they wrote. “Canceling would have been a major disappointment, not only for runners and families who plan their summers around this race, but also for the local schools, nonprofits, and small businesses that count on the tourism and funding it brings.”
The Wharf to Wharf Race – which was first run in 1973 and now features 16,000 entrants – donates around $250,000 each year to local schools and organizations, per the email.
Organizers also ask anyone who might be affected by the change in course to email them at info@wharftowharf.com.
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