Runners will take over most of the Indianapolis’ Northside on Saturday, interrupting traffic to and from Downtown as well as the IndyGo bus schedule.

The Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, extending from Downtown north to Broad Ripple, will include about 3,000 participants.

Police warn that motorists will have to give the race the right of way for several hours until it’s concluded sometime Saturday afternoon.

The event is so large that 100 officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will be on duty to direct traffic around closed streets and intersections.

“We’ll be trying to move traffic as safely as we can,” said IMPD traffic Sgt. Curtis Hanks. "At some point, the traffic will have to sit for safety.

“Patience will have to be the watchword. As soon as we can get the streets back open, we will.”

Nearly all IndyGo routes will need to take detours during the race, according to a statement from the municipal bus service. The exact detours will not be known until shortly before the race and will be posted on bus stop signs when possible.

The street closings also will provide a challenge for those trying to get to Lucas Oil Stadium for the annual Bands of America competition.

Capitol Avenue and McCarty Street near the stadium will close at 7 a.m. and reopen at 9 a.m. Missouri Street, on the west side of the stadium, will remain open, but South Street will be closed at Capitol Avenue during the race.

The morning session that will take place when traffic is blocked will include Indiana bands from New Palestine, Carmel, Plymouth, Terre Haute South and Orleans.

Spectators planning to attend the session, which begins at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, should plan to arrive early and approach the stadium from the west and south.

More information is available at monumentalmarathon.com/. A map of the course is at monumental marathon.com/images/Marathon_ Map_full_perspectiveWEB.pdf.