The USA Cycling National Pro Road, Criterium, and Time Trial Championships will be in Oak Ridge and Knoxville next week, June 17-20.
Oak Ridge will host the ITT (Individual Time Trial) National Championships for the third time in partnership with Visit Knoxville, a press release said.
The National Championships are scheduled just before the 2021 Olympics in Japan, where several Olympic athletes are expected to compete.
“This is an exciting time for Oak Ridge as we continue to show our natural assets and city to competitors from all over the world”, Hannah Fatheree, event manager for Explore Oak Ridge said in the press release. “We are grateful to the residents and visitors of Oak Ridge for their patience with traffic impacts and hope everyone comes out to watch the time trials.”
On Thursday, June 17, 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
8 a.m.—A partial shut-down of Melton Lake Drive. The road will be closed from Amanda Drive to Emory Valley Road.
9 a.m.—Melton Lake Drive will be closed from Palisades Parkway to Rolling Links Boulevard. Union Valley Road will also be closed. Residents of the Rivers Run, Rockbridge, and Royal Troon neighborhoods may exit right onto Melton Lake Drive toward Edgemoor Road until 9:15 a.m.
9:15 a.m.—The road will be completely closed from Palisades Parkway to Edgemoor Road. Residents of Palisades Parkway may turn left onto Melton Lake Drive toward Oak Ridge Turnpike.
Neighborhood impact
The Rivers Run, Rockbridge, and Royal Troon neighborhoods, including the Rolling Links Boulevard entrance, will be shut down beginning at 9:15 a.m., the press release said. Residents may exit the neighborhood using Rolling Links Boulevard to turn right onto Melton Lake Drive between 11:10 a.m.-11:20 a.m. In case of emergency, an ambulance and fire truck will be on standby. Any recurring services including but not limited to home care, lawn care, or repair will need to be rescheduled or arrive prior to 9:15 a.m. All vehicles along the race route will need to be in the driveway and off the road, the press release said.
“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 8 a.m. Thursday, June 17. There will be no access onto Melton Lake Drive from Emory Valley Road, the press release said. Residents of Amanda Drive or Emory Valley Road will need to take Antioch Drive, Baylor Drive, Baltimore Drive, etc. to exit the neighborhood, the release said.
Re-opening
All roads will tentatively be opened at 5 p.m. that day.
For more information, please call 865-483-1321 or email cyclinginfo@oakridgevisitor.com.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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