Triathlon event, Tour de Tempe to clog East Valley streets this weekend
Apr 5, 2019, 6:15 PM
(Facebook Photo/City of Tempe Government)
(Facebook Photo/City of Tempe Government)
PHOENIX – The streets of Tempe will be clogged this weekend with triathlon competitors and bicycle enthusiasts out for a leisurely ride.
More than 1,000 riders, including Mayor Mark Mitchell and members of the City Council, are expected to take part in Sunday’s 23rd annual Tour de Tempe community bike ride.
The event is part of Tempe Bike Month, when the city encourages residents to embrace human-powered transportation.
The two-hour ride begins at 9 a.m. at Kiwanis Park, north of Guadalupe Road across from the batting cages, with free registration starting at 7:30 a.m.
Food and bicycle shop vendors will be on hand, and the first 850 people to register get free T-shirts.
Riders, who must wear helmets and all obey traffic signs and lights, will pedal on a 12-mile loop north on College Avenue, east on Alameda Drive, south on Country Club Way and west back to Kiwanis Park along the Western Canal bike path.
There won’t be any traffic restrictions during the ride, but Tempe police will be assisting with flow.
The USAT Collegiate National Championship Triathlon will be in Tempe this Friday and Saturday. Find out about street restrictions and bus detours at https://t.co/KS09ApwDOj. pic.twitter.com/OzhQ9bNng2
— City of Tempe, AZ (@Tempegov) April 2, 2019
However, multiple closures will be enacted Saturday morning and afternoon for the second day of the USA Triathlon Collegiate Club and High School National Championships.
Approximately 1,200 collegiate athletes and 150 high schoolers were expected to participate in the two-day competition based at Tempe Beach Park.
The high school events were held Friday, with the college athletes in action Saturday.
The following closures will be in effect Saturday from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
- No north or south through traffic on Scottsdale Road at Rio Salado Parkway.
- No north or south through traffic on Mill Avenue at Rio Salado.
- No through traffic in all directions at the intersection of Mill and Curry Road.
- Southbound College Avenue will be closed between Curry and Marigold Lane.
- Rio Salado will be closed in both directions between Priest Drive and Mill.
Alternate access will be provided to business and residential properties on Rio Salado between Mill and Scottsdale Road and between Priest and Hardy Drive.
On top of the triathlon races, Arizona State University’s tennis, softball and track and field teams will be in action Saturday. Fans attending the events should avoid Rio Salado and access the venues from University Drive and Rural Road.
