Where RAGBRAI 50 Will Pedal Through Corridor Friday & Saturday
The 50th Annual RAGBRAI officially makes its way into eastern Iowa today. Friday and Saturday, the eastern third of the state will see and feel the impact.
Thursday & Friday Routes
The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) is traveling 82 miles, from Des Moines to Tama-Toledo, on Thursday.
Friday, it's another 82-mile trek, ending in Coralville. Friday's RAGBRAI route will pass through Chelsea, Belle Plaine, Marengo, Amana, and Oxford.
Tens of thousands of riders and support personnel will be making their way into Coralville on Friday. Many of them will no doubt be arriving early in the day due to the intense heat.
Roads Cyclists Will Be Using
Riders will make their way into Coralville via IWV Road to Melrose Avenue, and then north onto Camp Carnival Boulevard. They'll then use 9th Street and 8th Street to get to S.T. Morrison Park.
Travel Impacts Along Highway 218
As a result of riders entering the area, both northbound and southbound exit ramps from US Highway 218 to Melrose Avenue will be closed to non-emergency vehicles on Friday from noon to 6 p.m. The on-ramps will stay open. Exit ramps at Highway 1 and the I-80/380 interchange will stay open.
Street Closures and No Parking Areas in Coralville
Portions of 14th Avenue, 7th Street, 8th Street, and University Court will also be closed beginning early Friday, through 9 a.m. on Saturday. Additionally, several streets will have no parking allowed during RAGBRAI's visit. Specifics are available here.
Saturday Route Out of Coralville/Iowa City
When RAGBRAI departs the Coralville/Iowa City area on Saturday, bikers will be using 5th Street, First Avenue, and Highway 6. Riders then use Hawkins Drive to get to Kinnick Stadium, before using Elliott Drive, Newton Road, and West Iowa Avenue.
According to the City of Iowa City, riders will then "move north on North Madison Street, east on West Jefferson Street just north of the Old Capitol, south on South Clinton Street, and then again east on Iowa Avenue until it intersects with Muscatine Avenue. They will then ride Muscatine to American Legion Road and will take American Legion Road out of Iowa City."
You should avoid the above routes on Saturday morning. There will be major traffic delays in those areas.
More on RAGBRAI's visit to Coralville is available on the city's website.
Once RAGBRAI exits Coralville for the sixth time, and the first time since 1995, the mass of riders will make their way to Davenport where the ride ends with the traditional dip of a tire in the Mississippi River.
Stay safe everyone!