Tempe's Ironman Triathlon f*cks up traffic in Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix

http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/0408sr-ironman0408coverZ8.html

Triathlon will affect roadways

Michael Famiglietti The Arizona Republic Apr. 8, 2006 12:00 AM

SCOTTSDALE - Scottsdale drivers will face lane restrictions and closures Sunday to make room for athletes in Tempe's Ironman Triathlon.

About 2,400 people are registered for the athletic marathon, centered on Tempe Town Lake, that runs from 7 a.m. to midnight.

It will close the McKellips Road northbound off-ramp and the McKellips Road southbound on-ramp off Loop 101.

Southbound lanes on Arizona 87 will be closed but northbound lanes will be open for two-way traffic.

McKellips Road from McClintock Drive to Alma School Road will also be affected.

Roads will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except for Rural Road in Tempe, which is closed until midnight.

This is the second year Tempe has hosted the triathlon, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 26.2-mile run and a 112-mile bike ride.

Paul Huddle, co-director of the triathlon, said the route will be dynamic for the thousands of spectators and the participants.

It will be a faster bike course than it was in 2005 for this "active community," he said.

Ironman triathlons typically bring in about $4 million for cities that host them.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0408ironman.html

Tempe triathlon brings challenges for drivers

Ty Young The Arizona Republic Apr. 8, 2006 12:00 AM

The course for Sunday's Ford Ironman Arizona triathlon won't just challenge the 2,000 or so competitors.

Drivers will face plenty of lane restrictions and street closures to make room for the competition centered on Tempe Town Lake but stretching out at times for miles, from roughly 7 a.m. to midnight.

While the athletes have trained for months, Tempe officials have done the same. Hosting enormous events downtown has become typical for the city, which last weekend hosted both the Tempe Music Festival and the Tempe Festival of the Arts, creating plenty of traffic and parking issues.

This weekend will be more of the same throughout downtown Tempe, into Scottsdale and at times as far away as Mesa.

Tempe streets along the route will close Sunday for at least 12 hours starting at 6 a.m. Rio Salado Parkway between Ash and Mill avenues is closed and will reopen Monday.

And the ripple effect will create issues in Scottsdale. The event will close the McKellips Road northbound off-ramp and the McKellips Road southbound on-ramp off Loop 101.

Southbound lanes on Arizona 87 will be closed but northbound lanes will be open for two-way traffic.

McKellips Road from McClintock Drive to Alma School Road also will be affected.

Roads will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except for Rural Road in Tempe, which is closed until midnight.

This is the second year Tempe has hosted the triathlon, which has a 2.4-mile swim, a 26.2-mile run and a 112-mile bike ride.

While drivers get ready for their big test of patience, the athletes are counting the hours until one of the most grueling athletic events in the world.

"It's a little overwhelming right now," said Jay Mellen of Scottsdale.

Mellen, 57, will compete in his first Ironman on Sunday. Despite racing in triathlons for the past three years, joining the ranks of Ironman athletes is a dream, he said.

The race is one of five in the United States and one of 21 worldwide.

"It's huge," said Kara Anderson of Scottsdale. "There are only five Ironman events in the United States and one is right here."

Despite the pressure, Anderson said she is calm. Like Mellen, Sunday will be the 30-year-old's first Ironman. She and husband, Brian, own Triple Sports, a triathlon-related sports store in Scottsdale.

Reporter Michael Famiglietti contributed to this article.

A version of this story may have appeared in your community section or your community Republic.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0407tr-irontraffic07-ON.html

Triathlon will be trying, too, for drivers in Tempe

Michael Famiglietti and Ty Young The Arizona Republic Apr. 7, 2006 04:30 PM

The course for Sunday's Ford Ironman Arizona triathlon won't just challenge the 2,000 or so competitors.

Drivers will face plenty of lane restrictions and street closures to make room for the competition centered at Tempe Town Lake - but stretching out for miles - from roughly 7 a.m. to midnight.

While the athletes have trained for months, Tempe officials have done the same. Hosting enormous events downtown has become typical for the city, especially with its bustling downtown and the allure of the lake.

The city last week hosted both the Tempe Music Festival and the Tempe Festival of the Arts, creating plenty of issues downtown. This weekend will be more of the same throughout the downtown area.

Local streets along the route will close Sunday for at least 12 hours starting at 6 a.m.

Rio Salado Parkway between Ash and Mill avenues is already closed and will open Monday.

And the ripple effect alwill create issues in Scottsdale. The event will close the McKellips Road northbound off-ramp and the McKellips Road southbound on-ramp off Loop 101.

Southbound lanes on Arizona 87 will be closed but northbound lanes will be open for two-way traffic.

McKellips Road from McClintock Drive to Alma School Road also will be affected.

Roads will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except for Rural Road in Tempe, which is closed until midnight.

This is the second year Tempe has hosted the triathlon, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 26.2-mile run and a 112-mile bike ride.

Paul Huddle, co-director of the triathlon, said the route should be a hit with both spectators and participants. The hosts also win. Ironman triathlons typically bring in about $4 million for cities that host them.


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