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Letter to the editor

New route should ease outcry over Ironman

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published October 9, 2007

Some people will not be happy to hear that Nov. 10 the Ford Ironman 70.3 Triathlon returns to Pinellas County. Those would be people who last year, at the inaugural event, spent way too much time idling in stopped traffic or unable to reach their planned destinations because of road closures.

This time, race officials and local governments have a chance to make it better. If they don't, the public outcry could endanger the opportunity to continue this world-class athletic event in Pinellas and reap the rewards of the international exposure it brings.

The Ironman 70.3 Triathlon consists of a 56-mile bike, 1.2-mile swim off Clearwater Beach and 13.1-mile run. Approximately 1,300 athletes from all over the world competed last year, and the event was later broadcast by NBC Sports. Because Ironman officials were happy with the location and the event, they were eager to return, and they predict even more competitors and visitors this year.

Officials seemed to take seriously the complaints they heard from motorists last year. This year, a different route has been selected for the 56-mile bike ride, which created most of the problems.

As before, the ride will begin on Clearwater Beach. It will follow Drew Street to Belcher Road, take Countryside Boulevard and East Lake Road north to Lansbrook Parkway, reverse along McMullen-Booth Road and 49th Street south to Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park, and take Belcher Road and Court Street back to the beach.

The race route will extend farther north, into East Lake, this year in order to eliminate last year's 14-mile leg on the Courtney Campbell Parkway that caused traffic problems and raised the specter of an accident shutting down motorists' access to Tampa.

The route also will run clockwise this year and emphasize right turns, reducing the number of lanes that must be closed and some complications at intersections.

Clearwater, which brought the Ironman competition to Pinellas, plans to work even harder to publicize the event so motorists and tourists will not be caught off-guard. For example, last year's publicity did not sufficiently advertise the route map. While many locals knew the triathlon was in town, they were not sure how to avoid it. Residents and visitors outside of Clearwater were not aware that the race route extended well beyond the northern and southern boundaries of Clearwater.

Law enforcement agencies hopefully will do a better job this year of coordinating with each other and with race organizers. Last year, Clearwater police made sure that one lane in each direction was maintained along the race route for motorists, but authorities in other jurisdictions shut down roads entirely. Also, motorists had been advised to travel on east-west roads as much as possible and make U.S. 19 their primary north-south route, but many could not get to U.S. 19 because east-west roads were shut down for long periods where they crossed the race route. A traffic plan coordinated among all affected law enforcement agencies is essential.

However, no matter how careful the planning, some motorists will be inconvenienced and will complain that an event like an Ironman triathlon doesn't belong in Florida's most densely populated county.

Perhaps it will help ease the pain if they realize the presence of more than a thousand international athletes, their families, coaches and fans will bring an influx of dollars to area hotels, motels and other businesses that have struggled through a difficult year.

[Last modified October 8, 2007, 20:43:25]