The USA Cycling National Pro Road, Crit, Time Trial, and Para-Cycling Championships will be held in Knoxville and Oak Ridge next week, from June 27-30.
In partnership with Visit Knoxville, the City of Oak Ridge will host the ITT National Championships for the second year in a row, a press release said.
“Watching the national championship events last summer during USA Cycling’s first visit to Oak Ridge was an incredible experience,” Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said. “Obviously our community made an impact because these top-notch cycling teams are returning to our beautiful waterfront venue. We thank our residents and visitors for their patience with the traffic impacts and hope that everyone is able to come out and enjoy the time trials.”
Here is information about traffic impacts:
On Thursday, June 27, a significant portion of Melton Lake Drive will be shut down to through traffic to provide a closed-loop course, the press release said.
Melton Lake Drive impact:
A section of Melton Lake Drive will be closed from Palisades Parkway to Edgemoor Road to allow the course to be set up and for a closed-course loop. Residents may turn left from Palisades Parkway onto Melton Lake Drive, the press release said. The Rivers Run Boulevard entrance onto Melton Lake Drive will be closed. All residents entering and exiting the Rivers Run, Royal Troon, or Rockbridge neighborhoods may use the Rolling Links Boulevard entrance to turn right onto Melton Lake Drive until 10 a.m.
Neighborhood impact:
The Rivers Run, Rockbridge, and Royal Troon neighborhoods will be shut down from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., including the Rolling Links Boulevard entrance, as a part of the new time trial course. In case of emergency, an ambulance and fire truck will be stationed at the entrance to the neighborhood, the press release said.
Rivers Run Neighborhood residents who have a need to leave their home during this time are asked to park their cars on the upper part of Rolling Links Boulevard (uphill from Riverside Drive) between 8-9 a.m., and a shuttle will drive everyone back to their houses, the press release said. When residents wish to depart during the race change (11:50 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), stand at the end of the driveway beginning at 11:50, and a shuttle will pick everyone up to be taken to their cars, the release said.
Rolling Links Boulevard, Royal Troon, and Rockbridge residents can drive their cars to the road closure at Rolling Links Boulevard and Riverside Drive at the designated time of 11:50 a.m., and an outlet will be provided during the race change, the press release said.
All residents may return to their home at 3 p.m.
“We invite residents to attend the exciting time trial national championships to watch professional and elite men and women compete,” the press release said. “This event truly consists of the best of the best in the nation, and you have a front row seat!”
Emory Valley Road access:
Emory Valley Road will be closed from the Artesia Drive intersection to Melton Lake Drive beginning at 6 a.m. There will be no access onto Melton Lake Drive from Emory Valley Road, the press release said. Residents off Amanda Drive or Emory Valley Road will need to take Antioch Drive, Baylor Drive, Baltimore Drive, etc., to exit the neighborhood, the release said.
Reopening:
All roads will tentatively be opened at 6 p.m.
For questions or information, call (865) 342-9292 or email cyclinginfo@oakridgevisitor.com.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
You can contact John Huotari, owner and publisher of Oak Ridge Today, at (865) 951-9692 or john.huotari@oakridgetoday.com.
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