Drivers to expect Ironman detours and delays

CLEARWATER BEACH - The 2009 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship is taking over Pinellas County this weekend, and for drivers that means dozens of detours and delays.

Temporary road closures will stretch across Clearwater Beach to Countryside and East Lake starting as early as 3 a.m. Saturday on the beach and 5 a.m. elsewhere.

Race day driving tips:

• Avoid East Belcher Road. Use US19 instead.
• Leave early.
• Follow police. They will helping motorists through the signalized intersections along the route.
• Yield tp bicyclists. They have the right of way on the course.
• Cyclists will be in the outside curb lane throughout most of the course.
• Cyclists will be travelling on the inside median lane on McMullen Booth Rd.

The 56-mile bike route travels throughout northern and mid Pinellas County.  Click here for the bike course map.

Road closures:

• Coronado Drive at the Clearwater Beach Roundabout, 3 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Court Street, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• NE Cleveland Street and Drew Street, 7 to 9:15 a.m.
• Drew Street and Keene Road, 7 to 9:25 a.m. -Drew Street and Belcher Road, 7 to 9:30 a.m.
• Sunset Point and Belcher Road, 7:15 to 9:45 a.m.
• Countryside Boulevard and State Road 580, 7:15 to 10 a.m.
• Countryside Boulevard and Lake St. George, 7:15 to 10:15 a.m.
• Lake St. George and Tampa Road, 7:15 to 10:15 a.m.
• Tampa Road and Off ramp to East Lake Road, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
• East Lake Road and Keystone Road, 7:30 to 11 a.m.
• East Lake Road to Trinity Oaks Boulevard and back, 7:45 to 11 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road and Curlew Road, 7:45 to 11:15 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road and Enterprise Road, 8 to 11:30 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road and Drew Street, 8:15 to 11:45 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road and Roosevelt Boulevard, 8:30 a.m. to noon
• East Bay Drive and Belcher Road, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Belcher Road and Belleair Road, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Belcher Road and Gulf to Bay Boulevard, 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Gulf to Bay Boulevard to Clearwater Beach, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The 13.1 mile run route travels from Pier 60 throughout Clearwater Beach, across the Memorial Causeway Bridge and into downtown Clearwater.  Click here for the run course map.

Road closures:

• Fort Harrison Ave., from Chestnut St. to Jeffords St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Bay Ave., from Druid Rd. to Jeffords St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Magnolia Dr., from Pinellas Trail to Druid Rd. South, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Druid Rd. South, from Jeffords St. to Orange Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Orange Ave., from Druid Rd. to Turner St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Turner St., from Orange Ave. to Oak Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Oak Ave., from Turner St. to Chestnut St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

East Lake Road detours:

• The median openings along East Lake Road between Tampa Road and Trinity Boulevard will be blocked throughout the duration of the bike portion of the race.
• Residents living west of East Lake Road will be able to travel south on East Lake Road to access Tampa Road.
• Residents who live east of East Lake Road can travel north on East Lake Road, turn right on Trinity Boulevard and make a U-turn at the second median opening to go south.
• Residents living east of East Lake Road can also utilize East Lake Woodlands Parkway to access Tampa Road.
• At McMullen Booth Road and State Road 580, traffic traveling on McMullen Booth Road will be detoured east on State Road 580 to Tampa Road where cars will able to access East Lake Road.

Bayside Bridge detour:

• Southbound traffic on the McMullen Booth will be unable to use to Bayside Bridge during the race.
• Cars will be detoured west on Drew St., south on U.S. 19. When cars get to Roosevelt Boulevard, exit and make a U-turn under the over pass and go east on Roosevelt Boulevard to get onto 49th Street.

North Pinellas County closures:

• Keystone Road will be shut down at East Lake Road from 7:30 to 11 a.m.
• All eastbound and westbound intersections along East Lake Road will be blocked between Tampa Road and Trinity Boulevard. If you need to cross East Lake Road, you will have to travel south to Tampa Road or north of Trinity Boulevard.

Full road closures:

• Most of South Gulfview Boulevard will close on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 8 a.m. and re-open Monday, Nov. 16, 8 a.m.
• Keystone Road will be shut down at East Lake Road/McMullen Booth Road from 7:30 to 11 a.m.
• McMullen Booth Road from Curlew Road to Tampa Road, Northbound lanes will be closed to traffic
• Bayside Bridge, from Drew Street to Roosevelt Boulevard, Southbound lanes will be closed to traffic
• Coronado Drive will be closed from the Clearwater Beach roundabout to Devon Drive starting at 3 a.m.

Clearwater Beach traffic:

• South Gulfview Boulevard will be closed from Tuesday, Nov. 10, to Monday, Nov. 16.
• Coronado will be closed from the Clearwater Beach roundabout to Devon Drive starting at 3 a.m. on race day.
• Take Belleair Causeway to get to and from South Beach

For more information about the Ironman, click on over to www.myclearwater.com or www.ironmanlive.com.