Athletes competing in Ironman 70.3 do a quick change from their wetsuits into the cycling clothes to start a 56-mile course through hills south of Salem on during the 2021 event. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Ironman is racing through Salem again this weekend bringing up to 9,000 people and an estimated $10 million in economic impact to the area.
“This is Oregon’s Ironman race,” said Kara Kuh, deputy marketing officer for Travel Salem, noting that Salem is the only location for the Ironman triathlon in the state.
About 2,500 athletes are expected from across the country as well as outside of the U.S. to compete in a Sunday race that includes a 1.2 mile swim in the Willamette River, 56 mile ride through wine country and a 13.1 mile run that goes through Minto Brown Island Park.
Competitors will travel south on South River Road to Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge and back, resulting in road closures, said Trevor Smith, spokesman for Salem’s parks department.
Traffic will be affected beginning at 5 a.m. July 10 with several road closures and lane reductions along the south end of downtown heading toward South River Road.
The Highway 22 offramp to southbound Front Street which will be closed. A section of Southeast Front Street from Riverfront Park to Southeast Commercial Street will be reduced to one lane southbound. Southeast Commercial Street from Southeast Front Street to Southeast Mission Street will be reduced to one lane southbound.
Southeast Mission Street from Commercial Street to South Saginaw Street will be closed to all vehicles, including for parking, and Saginaw Street from Mission to South Owens Street will be closed to all vehicles as well. Westbound Owens Street from Commercial to River Road and southbound River Rd. S from Owens to Minto Brown Park will be closed.
For cars that need to cross these intersections or for those who live along the race course, there will be access points where Ironman traffic control staff can assist safe street crossing.
The Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge will be closed to the public on July 10, as will parking at Riverfront Park.
Spectators can park in Wallace Marine Park and walk in via the Union Street Railroad Bridge, or park in the downtown area and walk into Riverfront Park.
“Sunday will be a busy day in the area,” said Kuh, “but it does start early in the morning and concludes around 3 p.m. so there’s minimal impact on traffic.”
They’ll be economic impact as well, according to Kuh who said Travel Salem expects approximately 9,000 people eating in restaurants, shopping downtown and staying overnight in the city’s lodging properties generating about $10 million.
The Ironman 70.3 course for Salem includes a swim in the Willamette River, bike course heading south outside the city and a run through Riverfront and Minto Brown Island parks. (Ironman map)
-Caitlyn May
