SALEM, Ore. — Ironman activities will bring athletes and large crowds to downtown Salem this weekend, with preliminary events Saturday and the main Ironman 70.3 Oregon triathlon and related road closures Sunday.
Saturday’s activities include athlete events and the Ironkids race at Riverfront Park. The sold-out triathlon begins at 6:15 a.m. Sunday at Minto-Brown Island Park.
Athletes will complete a 1.2-mile swim in the Willamette River, a 56-mile bicycle ride through South Salem to the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge area and a 13.1-mile run through Minto-Brown Island Park. The race will finish at the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park.
Drivers should prepare for lane restrictions and road closures from 5 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m. Sunday. The greatest impacts are expected near Minto-Brown Island Park, Riverfront Park, Commercial and Front streets, Mission Street and River Road South.
Southbound River Road will be closed between Owens Street and Minto Island Road, while Owens Street will be closed to westbound traffic between Liberty Street and River Road. Portions of Mission and Saginaw streets will be limited to local traffic.
Drivers traveling between Salem and Independence on River Road South are encouraged to use alternate routes Sunday morning and early afternoon.
The Peter Courtney Pedestrian Bridge will also be closed to the public on race day. Riverfront, Minto-Brown Island and Wallace Marine parks will remain open, but parking and access will be limited.
The main race is Sunday, July 19—not Saturday. Saturday’s schedule features the Ironkids race and other preliminary activities.
