WACO, Texas — Over 10,000 visitors will be making a stop in Waco this weekend to catch the IRONMAN Waco triathlon race, meaning it's going to be busy and there are going to be several road closures and delays.
Here are the road closures you need to know about if you plan to drive into Waco this Saturday and Sunday:
Complete Road Closures
- University Parks Drive/Cameron Park Drive (Franklin Avenue to Mouth of the Bosque in Cameron Park)
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (Washington Avenue to Lake Shore Drive – MLK, Jr. Blvd. is expected to be open from 3 p.m. on Saturday through 8 a.m. on Sunday)
- Washington Avenue Bridge
Roads & Intersections Affected
Expect delays at the following intersections in China Spring
- MLK, Jr. Boulevard and Lake Shore Drive
- China Spring Road and Steinbeck Bend Drive
- China Spring Road and Flat Rock Road
- Yankie Road and North River Crossing (FM 185)
- North River Crossing (FM 185) will be closed to one lane crossing over the N. Bosque River bridge. Event will utilize a pilot car to assist as athletes safely pass.
- Bend of the Bosque and China Spring Road
- China Spring Road and Talbert Ranch Road/Bob Johnson Road
- Old China Spring Road and Culpepper Lane
- Wortham Bend Road (bikers crossing)
- Wortham Bend Road and Petit Road
- Steinbeck Bend Drive and Rock Creek Road
Alternate Routes
- University Parks Drive from Franklin Avenue to Mouth of the Bosque will be closed Saturday and Sunday. Citizens can access Cameron Park points of interest such as Northern Gateway and Lover’s Leap from N. 19th Street.
- Washington Avenue from 3rd Street to MLK, Jr. Boulevard will be closed Saturday and Sunday. Parking will be available at Heritage Square, City Hall, Franklin Avenue/5th Street garage and downtown public lots.
- Herring Avenue between 4th Street and MLK, Jr. Boulevard will be open to vehicles. Motorists can cross Herring Avenue but cannot turn right or left on MLK, Jr. Boulevard.
- MLK, Jr. Blvd will be closed from Franklin Avenue to Lake Shore Drive Saturday and Sunday. The road is expected to be open from 3 p.m. on Saturday through 8 a.m. on Sunday. Additional closures are expected from Franklin Avenue to BUS77/La Salle Avenue.
- Lake Shore Drive will be open, and bikers will use one lane between MLK, Jr. Boulevard/Steinbeck Bend Drive and N. 19th Street. Vehicles can access Lake Shore Drive and N. 19th Street in both directions.
- N. 19th Street and China Spring Road are accessible and open to vehicles in both directions. Athletes will utilize one traffic lane. Expect delays at intersections along both roadways.
- Steinbeck Bend Drive will remain open for vehicular access. Please note all residential neighborhoods along Steinbeck Bend Drive will be forced to turn right. Residents in Keys Creek can access China Spring via Steinbeck Bend Drive and right on China Spring Road or downtown via Steinbeck Bend Drive and left on China Spring Road. Residents in the Riverbend Division can access China Spring or downtown via Steinbeck Bend Drive to Lake Shore Drive.
China Spring area periodic delays
- Saturday -- Delays begin between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and will continue until approximately 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with peak delay times at intersections between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
- Sunday -- Delays begin between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and will continue until approximately 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with peak delay times at intersections between 10 a.m. and noon
Race Route in China Spring
Ironman participants will use the following residential roadways below:
- Flat Rock Road
- Tree Lake Drive
- Arnett Road
- Yankie Road
- N. River Crossing (FM 185)
- Eichelberger Crossing
- Lady Bird Lane
- HWY 6
- Baylor Camp Road
- Meandering Way
- Coopers Crossing Road
- Old Ranch Road
- Bend of the Bosque
- China Spring Road (FM 1637)
- Old China Spring Road
- Talbert Ranch Road/Bob Johnson Road
- Culpepper Lane
- Quail Haven Road
- Wortham Bend Road
- Petit Road
- Pioneer Parkway
- Horse Bend Road
- Horseshoe Bend Road
- Rock Creek Road/N. Rock Creek Road
