The route has been measured and certified a half-marathon course, now the Appleby Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby committee is anxiously awaiting the repaving of Dutton Avenue which will be the finish line on May 25.

The road has been closed since October after heavy flooding caused by hurricanes Fay and Gonzalo, with the intention of raising the level of the road after major reconstruction work by the Ministry of Public Works.

But with 12 days to go before hundreds of runners leave St George’s for Bernard Park, the road remains closed to traffic.

“They assured us it would be done and if they don’t have it done then it won’t be for a lack of me being assured that it would be done,” Gina Tucker, the president of the Derby committee, said.

She added that she does not even want to contemplate having to switch the finish line if the road is not repaved in time.

“We’re very wary of touching the course because it is so precisely measured, but if it does come to not being done then we will have to figure something out for that last part, which may mean switching it to the field [Bernard Park].

“I don’t want to consider that because I’m really hopeful it will be done by Monday, the 25th.

“We, the committee, have been assured it will be ready. We met with them a few months ago when they assured us it would be ready.”

The race will involve the East End for the first time since 1976, with the route from St George’s to Bernard Park taking in Middle Road before the runners turn down Front Street and then onto Queen Street, Church Street and Cedar Avenue, which is also the final part of the Somerset to Bernard Park course.

With the race firmly on the horizon, excitement is reaching fever pitch as runners prepare to tackle the new course. Organisers are expecting somewhere in the region of 1,000 runners and close to 200 relay teams for the race which is 105 years old this month.

“It’s getting down to the wire and we are doing the final touches this week in preparation for the early deadline on Friday,” Tucker said.

“Next week Friday at 6pm is the late deadline and then on Saturday [23rd] is the absolute latest that people can register at the number pick-up.”

A new men’s champion will be crowned, with triathlete Tyler Butterfield, winner the last two years, confirming that he will miss the race because it clashes with his preparations for the Ironman Brazil the following weekend. Chris Estwanik, who has been out injured the past two years, will be making a comeback as he goes in search of a sixth title.

The race will be in memory of Trevor Cann, a former race director and committee member, who died in December at the age of 57, as well as former winner Neville Virgil who died last month.

“What we usually do is a minute’s silence at the start and then at the reception on the 27th we will pay tribute to them,” said Tucker. Virgil, who like his twin brother Neil wore white gloves, celebrated the last of his two victories exactly 50 years ago.

“I encourage anyone to come out and pay tribute to him in their small way and that [wearing white gloves] would be a wonderful way of doing that,” Tucker said.

Entry forms are available online and from the Sportseller.

n The final part of the course for the cyclists competing in the Sinclair Packwood Memorial race from St George’s to Cedar Avenue on May 25 has been confirmed. The riders will go through Middle Road into Hamilton past Reid Street extension and then left onto Court Street to Front Street and right onto Queen Street before finishing on Cedar Avenue outside Leopard’s Club.

“This is a good route and will make that final run to the finish a bit more technical and a great spectator event,” Peter Dunne, the Bermuda Bicycle Association president, said.

Shannon Lawrence and Zoenique Williams are the defending men’s and women’s champions after maiden victories last year.