The Unbound Gravel team presented county commissioners with a preliminary plan for road closures needed for the Unbound Gravel bike races, set for May 30 - June 2, during a commission meeting Thursday morning.
The Unbound Gravel expo and trade show will impact roadways from May 29-31 along Mechanic Street between 6th Ave and 8th Ave, as well as 7th Ave from Commercial Street to Market Street. During race day, 7th and 8th Ave from Commercial Street to the alley will remain closed.
The group rides on Friday, May 31 will rely on lead-outs from the Emporia Police Department.
“Saturday, race start times go between 6 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. in descending order of distances, 200 down to 25,” Race Director Ben Sachs added.
EPD, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department and the Emporia Fire Department will be helping with lead-outs until riders get out of town. However, this year, Sachs said, Unbound Gravel would like to make a few road closures to keep riders protected from motor vehicles.
Sachs asked for a one-lane closure on Burlingame Road southbound from Road 190 to Road 180 and through 18th Ave, Highland Street, 12th Ave and Commercial Street to the finish line.
Unbound Gravel will be partnering with RoadSafe Traffic Systems, out of El Dorado, to provide road signage, cones and barricades for road closures.
“We have been in discussions with the Sheriff, Emergency Management, Road and Bridge around what would be required to make that happen and to make it safe for everyone involved, riders and local traffic,” Sachs said. “Signage all along diverting southbound traffic that would be coming in from [Highway] 99 to Burlingame and any of the gravel roads with signage telling them to go to 99 and use that to come into Emporia.”
The new road closure suggestions would keep riders from having to cross the highway at potentially dangerous intersections, as well as providing riders more room to pass each other along the roadways.
“This is an elevated ask from previous years,” Marketing Manager Kristi Mohn said. “The closure hasn’t been, even in town, as long.”
Sachs said the closures would be in effect from 9:30 a.m. at the latest and kept closed until the last rider comes in, often around 3 a.m. on Sunday.
Emergency personnel attending the meeting suggested the possibility of using a pilot car to lead traffic north and southbound in one lane on Burlingame Road from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Undersheriff John Koelsch also suggested putting signage at Hwy 99 and Burlingame Road at least a week in advance.
No official decision was made at Thursday's meeting to allow the involved parties time to gather more information.
- Approved a resolution for a stop sign on Road F at the intersection with Road 190.
- Approved a resolution abating taxes still left over after the real property tax foreclosure case and tax sale held in January.
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