SINGAPORE — For the first time, over 90 per cent of this year’s Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) routes will see full road closures to align with worldwide major marathon standards and offer a better car-free experience to runners, the event's organisers announced on Thursday (Aug 31).

This comes as organisers introduced new routes to this year’s edition — allowing runners to take in more historic sights such as Masjid Sultan Mosque and the Old Hill Street Police Station along the way.

Beginning from Orchard Road, runners in the Full and Half Marathon categories will race through Singapore’s shopping district before turning left towards Bugis, Rochor and the Arab Street enclave, which are all new features on this year’s routes.

Another addition to this year’s route will be a 5km loop which passes through Gardens by the Bay. This will reduce the time spent along the East Coast Parkway, making for wider pathways and more room for overtaking, said organisers.

At the 35km mark, half and full marathon runners will merge to run the penultimate 5km of the race together before splitting into respective lanes 2km from the end. The split will allow faster runners in the marathon category a smooth finish on their final approach towards the new finish line on the Padang.

Meanwhile. the 10km category will flag off outside One Fullerton before passing through the Downtown Core and looping back onto the reclaimed Marina Bay.

The Half and Full marathons will have a hour-long flag-off beginning simultaneously at 4.30am on Dec 3. Runners in the 10km category will start at 7.15am.

Ironman Asia managing director Geoff Meyers, who is one of the organisers of the race, says the road closures and new routes will help to eventually establish the SCSM among the top marathons in the world.

“This new route showcases the best of Singapore past and present, and documents the story of the iconic city from its humble beginnings. With the goal of reaching the World Marathon Majors, we felt it was important to show key Singapore icons to the world through a route that is a truly unique representation of this cosmopolitan city.”

He added: “Working closely with partners and government bodies, we’re confident that this will be the best SCSM yet, and look forward to sharing this experience come race day.”