CHAMPAIGN -- It's not exactly a "Clash of the Titans," but distance runners and film buffs converging this weekend figure to increase traffic concerns throughout Champaign-Urbana.

But organizers from both the Illinois Marathon and Ebertfest have been working together and with local police to minimize traffic problems.

"We've been working very closely with the marathon people to minimize the transportation issues," said Ebertfest Festival Director Nate Kohn. "I think we've got it pretty well figured out."

"The Ebertfest people worked hand-in-hand with us in planning for the weekend," said Illinois Marathon Co-Race Director Mike Lindemann.

The scheduling conflict was brought about by a combination of tradition and facility availability.

Kohn said Ebertfest has traditionally been held at the Virginia Theatre on the last weekend of April.

Meanwhile, Lindemann said the marathon's date was largely determined by the availability of Memorial Stadium and other UI facilities, since the health and fitness expo takes place at the Activities and Recreation Center, and one of the race's biggest attractions is the ability of runners to cross the finish line on the 50-yard line of the stadium.

"Between Mom's Day, the spring football game, a high school football coaches' clinic and commencement, this was the only weekend we were given to hold the race," Lindemann said. "In addition, holding the race on Mom's Day was an issue because many of the hotels didn't have rooms available for the runners."

If you're planning to drive anywhere in Champaign-Urbana on Saturday morning, it's important to know that the marathon route extends 26.2 miles through the two cities, and quite a few streets will be closed during the race.

That means drivers headed to Ebertfest, the Artists Against AIDS art exhibition, the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics State Math Contest, shows at Krannert Center or other events may be in for surprises.

"You can add to that the fact that we're dealing with 18,000 runners, which is a new record high for the race," said Sgt. Scott Friedlein of the Champaign Police Department, a member of a traffic planning committee. "So we've got more people coming in to the event and all these other extra events."

Friedlein said his committee includes members of the Champaign, Urbana, UI and state police; the Champaign County Sheriff's Office; the Champaign and Urbana fire departments; the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District; local ambulance services; public-works departments; and hospitals. It met with representatives from as many of the competing events as possible in an effort to accommodate their needs.

Friedlein said police will install temporary four-way stop signs at a number of intersections along the route, which could surprise unsuspecting drivers.

In addition, stoplights at some major intersections will be converted to flashing red lights around 5 a.m. Saturday, with police officers controlling traffic starting around 6:30 a.m.

Drivers seeking to avoid the stream of runners are being asked to follow a traffic beltway to reach their destinations.

The suggested beltway route includes Windsor Road from Staley Road to Race Street, Race Street from Windsor Road to Curtis Road, Curtis Road from Race Street to Philo Road, Philo Road from Curtis Road to Windsor Road, Windsor Road from Philo Road to High Cross Road, High Cross Road from Windsor Road to University Avenue, University Avenue from High Cross Road to Lincoln Avenue, Lincoln Avenue from University Avenue to Bradley Avenue, Bradley Avenue from Lincoln Avenue to Staley Road, and Staley Road from Bradley Avenue to Windsor Road.

Here's a link to the beltway map: http://www.illinoismarathon.com/pdf/map_beltway.pdf

"You'll be better off going 2 or 3 miles out of your way than if you catch an intersection at the wrong time," Friedlein said. "We're trying to avoid multiple crossings over the marathon route."

Friedlein said most of the runners will be parking in the parking lots around the Assembly Hall and in the parking lots at the UI research park. Here's a link to the parking map: http://illinoismarathon.com/pdf/map_start_finish.pdf

Motorists headed to Ebertfest are asked to follow the beltway to Bradley and State streets, take State Street south and follow posted signs to the Hill Street parking deck, municipal lots or available metered spaces.

Kohn said many of the dignitaries attending Ebertfest are staying at the Illini Union, which is along the marathon route.

"We have arranged for a bus to get our guests from the Illini Union to the theater, with the police escorting the bus," Kohn said.

Friedlein noted that Saturday's first film at Ebertfest won't begin until 11 a.m.

"The starting time is late enough in the day that most of our significant issues will have slowed down by then," Friedlein said.

Race organizers are using technology to help them determine when to re-open streets during the marathon.

"We're going to have GPS locating devices on our lead vehicles and our tail vehicles so we'll be able to see where the race is so we can make sure when we can re-open streets," Friedlein said.

Plans call for keeping the streets closed to allow runners to complete the marathon within six hours, Friedlein said.

"We'll tell the runners to step onto the sidewalk if they get to the point where they are lagging behind the six-hour completion pace for the marathon," Friedlein said. "They can finish the course, but they will have to do so by abiding by traffic-control devices."