Traffic Impacts For Saturday’s Ironman Triathlon

Over 3,000 participants are expected to compete in Saturday’s Ironman 70.3 Triathlon. The course will begin in Wrightsville Beach and end in downtown Wilmington.

The triathlon includes a 1.2-mile swim course in Banks Channel on Wrightsville Beach, a 56-mile bike ride that starts at Wrightsville Beach, then onto MLK Parkway, and onto US 421 into Pender County and back. It ends with a 13.1-mile run starting at Greenfield Lake and ending in downtown.

This will obviously affect traffic, so here are the anticipated road closures/delays associated with the triathlon.

Bike Course

The bike course for the Ironman Triathlon.

Traffic control devices will be in place by 6AM. These closures are temporary, and detours have been carefully planned. The race route is an open course; roads are open to traffic, but there will be lane closures and traffic pattern changes. All traffic lights along the route will be operating as normal and law enforcement will be present.

Cyclists leaving Wrightsville Beach will merge into the far-left lane. Prior to the Eastwood Rd/Military Cutoff Rd intersection, the left lane will be coned off to traffic and open to cyclists heading straight up Eastwood and MLK to cross the Isabel Holmes Bridge. The route will continue over the Isabel Holmes Bridge onto 421 (northbound). In Pender County, cyclists turn left at Union Chapel Rd and travel through secondary roads before returning down Blueberry Rd to 421 S. Cyclists return into Wilmington over the Isabel Holmes Bridge before ending downtown.

Causeway Dr from Waynick Blvd at Wrightsville Beach to the Wrightsville Beach DrawbridgeClosed; Use Lumina Ave to Salisbury5:15AM to 10AM
All roads intersecting Eastwood (eastbound) and MLK (eastbound), except Market St and College RdClosed7AM to 10:30AM
Eastwood/Military CutOff IntersectionExpect Delays7AM to 10:30AM
College Rd (southbound) from MLK to Racine DrExpect Delays7AM to 10:30AM
Market St (eastbound) from College Rd to MLKExpect Delays7AM to 10:30AM
MLK (eastbound) from McRae St to College RdExpect Delays – One Lane Open to Traffic7AM to 10:30AM
Hwy 76 to 421 (northbound) – Traffic detoured to 2nd exit ramp eastbound off Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, then to the on ramp and over the bridge to 421Closed7AM to 2PM
Hwy 421 (north and southbound) I-140-Isabel HolmesExpect Delays7AM to 2PM

Pender County Bike Route

The Pender County portion of the bike course for the Ironman triathlon.

Hwy 421 from 210 to Hwy 53Expect Delays8AM to 1PM
Hwy 210 West from 421 to Brinson RdLocal Traffic Only/Expect
Delays
8AM to 12PM

Run Course

The run course for the Ironman triathlon.
N 2nd St from N Front St to Hanover StClosed3AM to 5PM
Brunswick St from 3rd St to Nutt StClosed6AM to 5PM
Hanover St from N 2nd St to Nutt StClosed6AM to 5PM
Front St (southbound) from N 3rd St to Red Cross StClosed6AM to 5PM
Front St (southbound) from Red Cross to GreenfieldClosed9AM to 5PM
S Front St (northbound) from S 3rd St/Burnette St to Dawson StClosed9AM to 5PM
Red Cross St from N Front St to N Water StClosed9AM to 3PM
Greenfield St from S Front St to S Fifth AveClosed9AM to 5PM
S 3rd St (southbound) at Wooster StClosed9AM to 5PM
Westbound access to Water St will be open at cross streets along Front St unless otherwise mentioned aboveExpect Delays and Use Alternate Routes9AM to 5PM

The inner lane of Lake Shore Drive (closest to the lake) is closed from 5th Ave to Amphitheater Dr. Traffic will travel counterclockwise around the lake and out of intersecting neighborhoods. All vehicles entering Lake Shore Dr from any of the
intersecting roads must take a right hand turn onto Lake Shore Dr – no left-hand turns will be allowed.

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