Some of the best endurance athletes in the country, Saturday, will participate in the Ironman Boulder 70.3 which will also cause traffic delays and close some local Boulder County roads. As many as 2,000 are expected to participate as they vie for 200 qualifying slots in the September 2021 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in St. George, Utah.
The Ironman Boulder 70.3 is an annual event but was cancelled last year because of COVID-19, John Holste, special events coordinator for Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting, said via email.
Each athlete must swim, bike and run to complete the 8-hour-and-30 minute race, according to the Ironman Boulder 70.3 website. The race starts at the Boulder Reservoir with a single loop swim and then transitions to a one-loop bike course all in Boulder County. Participants finish with a 31.1 mile run.
Residents will have access to their homes during the race, but may encounter delays and should follow recommended detours, according to a Boulder County Sheriff news release. Boulder County Sheriff’s deputies, Colorado State Patrol and volunteer traffic marshals will help ensure the safety of riders and travelers alike, the news release states.
View the course maps and recommended detour routes, or view an interactive map at boco.org/BoulderIronmanMap.
The bike course will be active between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, and will use the following roads:
- Colo 119/Diagonal Highway, No. 63rd St., Monarch Rd, Niwot Rd, Neva Rd, U.S. 36/N. Foothills Hwy, Nelson Rd, N. 65th St.,St. Vrain Rd, Hygiene Rd, Colo 66/Ute Highway, N. 75th St, and 71st St.
- Significant detour and heavy traffic is expected on Colo 119/Diagonal Highway, though it will remain open to through traffic from Boulder to Longmont. All traffic will be shifted onto the Longmont-bound travel lanes to allow the bike course to use the Boulder-bound lanes.
- N. 63rd St. WILL BE CLOSED to vehicular traffic from Monarch Road to Colo.119 from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- N. 75th St. WILL BE CLOSED to northbound vehicular traffic between Hygiene and Colo, 66 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents will be allowed to enter their neighborhood, no access to Colo.66 from Hygiene.
- N. 71st St. WILL BE CLOSED to all traffic from Monarch Road to CO 119/Diagonal Highway from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Niwot Rd. WILL BE CLOSED to all traffic from CO 119/Diagonal Highway to 71st Street from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Monarch Road WILL BE CLOSED to all traffic from CO 119/Diagonal Highway to 71st Street from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Access to IBM will be allowed via 71st Street to Monarch Road - NO ACCESS TO IBM VIA CO 119/Diagonal Highway.
- Hygiene Road WILL BE CLOSED from Hwy 36 to 75th St from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents will be allowed to access their homes.
- Nelson Road WILL BE CLOSED from 65th St to 75th St from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents will be allowed to access their homes.
- N. 51st/55th Streets WILL BE CLOSED to vehicular traffic from Jay Road to Monarch Road except to local residents between 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Boulder Reservoir WILL BE CLOSED all day on Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7, as well as the afternoon of Thursday, August 5.
Motorists are asked to not cross the course, if possible. To avoid the course, take U.S. 36/N. Foothills Parkway, Colo 66/Ute Highway, Jay Road, Airport Road and/or Hover Road, the news release states.
