Intersections, roads in central Oak Ridge closed during Neon Vibe 5K next weekend

Intersections and roads in central Oak Ridge will be closed for a few hours next weekend for the first Neon Vibe 5K race in Tennessee.

The race starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, near the pavilion inside Alvin K. Bissell Park. The course includes ORAU Way, Robertsville and Providence roads, North and South Tulane avenues, and Badger Avenue.

The Oak Ridge Police Department will start closing major intersections and side roads at 7 p.m., a press release said. The entire race course will be closed to all traffic by 7:30 p.m.

Here are the intersections and roads that will be closed until after the race has finished between 9 and 9:30 p.m.:

• Oak Ridge Turnpike from Illinois Avenue to Rutgers Avenue
• Oak Ridge Turnpike and Robertsville Road
• Robertsville Road and Providence Road
• Providence Road and Tulane Avenue at Pennsylvania
• Oak Ridge Turnpike and Tulane Avenue
• Tulane Avenue and Illinois Avenue
• Oak Ridge Turnpike and Rutgers Avenue

The press release said traffic will be diverted around these intersections.

“Motorists should be aware of runners and walkers in the race areas and try to avoid these roads and find alternate routes if possible,” the release said.

It said the Neon Vibe 5K is an after-dark, fluorescent fun run and walk that will have participants “glowing with neon color and dancing all night long.

“Starting with the 5K, participants will run a traditional, non-competitive 3.1-mile course with four UV black light ‘glow zone’ color stations and upbeat dance music set up throughout the route,” the release said. “Volunteers will be on hand to cover the crowd with neon powder that glows under UV black lights. The evening ends with a fun ‘Aftervibe party’ with a DJ at the pavilion inside A.K. Bissell Park.”

It’s the first Neon Vibe 5K in the state of Tennessee, and more than 1,000 people are expected to participate. Organizers said the Neon Vibe welcomes all participants regardless of age or ability, and race proceeds benefit the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Here is the race course:

Runners will travel through the Park and make a right on ORAU Way, then cross the Turnpike onto Robertsville Road. From there, the course travels along Robertsville Road and makes a right on Providence. From Providence, the route turns right onto North Tulane Avenue, traveling across the Turnpike onto South Tulane Avenue. The route will travel down South Tulane Avenue until it makes a right onto Tulane Place. The route travels a short distance and turns right onto Badger Avenue. Runners will then travel Badger Avenue behind the campus of Oak Ridge Associated Universities. Runners will turn right onto ORAU Way, which will lead them back into Bissell Park to complete the race at the finish line near the pavilion.

For more information about the event and to register, visit https://theneonvibe.webconnex.com/oakridge, visit www.oakridgetn.gov, or contact the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau at (865) 482-7821.