RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Looking to travel to a specific part of town while the races are taking place?
Here’s a look at what’s going on today in Richmond for the UCI Road World Championships, including road closures, race routes and recommended access points, all courtesy Richmond 2015.
Races on September 21 will utilize the Individual Time Trial Circuit, starting on 3rd Street between Leigh and Clay Streets and finishing at the intersection of 5th and Broad Streets downtown. Junior Women and U23 Men will compete on this technical course that winds through the city of Richmond.
The first race event begins at 10:00 a.m., and the final race event is projected to finish at 3:50 p.m. Daily street closures will be in effect one hour before events start to one hour after events finish, from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. During this time, the streets included in the course will be closed to through traffic and on-street parking.
Because the Individual Time Trial Course travels across the Belvidere Street Bridge, the I-195 Downtown Expressway “Belvidere Street” Exits will be closed on Monday, September 21, and Tuesday, September 22, reopening when streets reopen following the Individual Time Trial training session and race events.
The Individual Time Trial Course begins on 3rd Street south of Leigh Street. Riders travel south on 3rd Street, turn right onto Broad Street, then left onto Belvidere. Riders later return from the south on Belvidere, turn right onto Broad Street, right onto 2nd Street, left onto Main Street, left onto Governor Street, and left onto Broad Street, toward the 5th Street Finish Line.
Police will operate vehicular course crossing points across Franklin Street at Harrison Street, and across Main Street at 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th Streets.
The Downtown Accessibility Area is bounded on the north by Broad Street, on the east by Governor Street, on the south by Main Street, and on the west by 2nd Street. Access to the Downtown Accessibility Area is from the south, where vehicular crossing points allow controlled travel across Main Street at 6th Street, 7th Street, 8th Street, and 9th Street. Drivers entering the Downtown Accessibility Area should plan to do so from the south via northbound 7th or 9th Street. Drivers leaving the Area should plan to do so to the south via southbound 6th or 8th Street.
Note that Marshall Street will be converted to two-way travel between 5th Street and 7th Street downtown, to facilitate hotel and parking structure access.
Riders turn right off Belvidere Street onto Franklin Street, then continue on Monument Avenue to Davis Avenue, then turn 180 degrees and return on Monument Avenue. They continue on Franklin Street, turn right on Laurel, left on Main, and right onto Belvidere.
There are no vehicular course crossing points in this section of the course, as the course can be easily circumvented utilizing Broad Street, Boulevard, and streets south of Monument in the Fan neighborhood.
Riders continue south on Belvidere, across the Lee Bridge. South of the James River, riders will turn right on Stonewall Avenue, right on 20th Street, and right on Riverside Drive. They will then take the ramp back onto northbound Belvidere Street, travel back across the Lee Bridge, and turn right onto Broad Street.
Police will not operate vehicular crossing points along this course section.
I-195 Downtown Expressway “Belvidere Street” Exits will be closed during the Individual Time Trial training session and race events on Saturday, September 19, Monday, September 21, and Tuesday, September 22, reopening when streets reopen following the Individual Time Trial training session and race events.
2nd Street will be converted to two-way travel where it passes under Belvidere, to facilitate movement across the course.
Byrd Street will be converted to two-way travel from Belvidere to 2nd Street, to facilitate access to offices near Byrd and Belvidere.
Pine Street will be converted from one-way northbound to one-way southbound in order to facilitate vehicular flow from Cary Street eastbound to Cumberland Street westbound. There is no vehicular crossing point on Cary.
Drivers who would normally travel between downtown and southside via Belvidere Street across the Lee Bridge should consider taking 9th Street across the Manchester Bridge, 14th Street across the Mayo Bridge, or I-95.
Drivers who would normally travel between southside and East Main Street/ Uptown, Oregon Hill, VCU, the Fan, or the Museum District via Belvidere Street across the Lee Bridge should consider taking Route 76 Powhite Parkway, Westover Hills Boulevard across the Nickel Bridge, or taking 9th Street, 14th Street, or I-95 to westbound 195 Downtown Expressway.
Riders will travel east on Broad, turn right onto 2nd Street, left onto East Main Street, left onto Governor Street, and left onto Broad, toward the 5th Street Finish Line.
For interactive mapping tools and answers to questions about how to navigate the World Championships, click here. Information is also available from the City of Richmond’s 311 call center. Dial 3-1-1, or 804-646-7000.
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