Rolling road closures and other traffic restrictions for cycle races
FINAL preparations are being put in place as Wexford is getting ready to welcome the best cyclists this weekend for the Irish National Cycling Championships which are being staged here for the first time in 27 years.
The championships will get under way with a time trial starting from Johnstown Castle at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, which will take the riders on a 34 km route to Kilmore Quay and back again.
The road races will start Saturday, June 24, at 10 a.m. from County Hall, with the M60s setting off first, followed by the M40s and then the M50s.
The elite ladies will depart from County Hall Sunday, June 25, at 10 a.m. before the main event of the Men’s Senior and U-23 race at 11 a.m.
The 18.9 km circuit runs through Castlebridge, then through the village of Crossabeg and then right onto Saunders Court Road. The riders will join the N11 briefly and then pass by the Ferrycarrig Hotel before taking a sharp left over the river Slaney. Then an immediate ‘V’ in the road will see the cyclists go right into a hairpin bend on Codds Lane.
The race will take a left and then return to the R781, bringing the cyclists back into Wexford Town for the finish line at the old GPS buildings, 500 metres shy of Redmond Square.
There will be rolling closures throughout the event where drivers will be stopped for about five minutes along the route. This means advance motorcycles will drive in front of the race stopping any traffic from pulling onto the race route.
Marshals and Gardaí will also be at all junctions forewarning traffic of the approach of the motorcycle convoy and the ensuing race.
The biggest traffic cautioning will be at Ferrycarrig through to Codslane where there will be restricted access to locals only, and only following the same direction as the race. (Moving over the bridge towards Ferrycarrig). Drivers can also expect delays if coming in from the North side of the town through to 1798 Street.
Carcur road is where the finish line is and it will be closed for the sprint finish, though the closure will last only a couple of minutes until all of the riders are safely through.
Patsy McCaffery, Marshall co-ordinator said: ‘We ask people to be patient and work with the marshals and Gardai. They are there to try and lessen the inconvenience.’