PPD Beach2Battleship to cause traffic delays | People

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The Wilmington Police Department is working with event organizers for the PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon to ensure participants will be safe and the traffic tie-ups are minimized.

There are two significant hotspots that will cause traffic delays within Wilmington city limits.

1-  Residents who live along the Eastwood Road/Military Cutoff section of the bike course will not be permitted to come out of side streets onto the main road while cyclists are passing through.

2-   Drivers are asked to exercise extreme caution at the intersection of Third and Greenfield Streets all day Saturday, as runners head into and out of the seven-mile loop around Greenfield Lake. Organizers estimate the first runners will begin to appear around 11 a.m. and the last could pass through 12 hours later.

Since traffic must be stopped when runners are going through the intersection, drivers are advised to expect delays or to use alternate routes during these hours.

Other traffic information includes:

1. The intersection of Hwy 17 (Market St.) and Porters Neck Rd. just south of the new interchange with I-140
Traffic delays are probable from 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. for northbound traffic on Market St. (Hwy 17) at Porters Neck Rd. Traffic delays are also probable for Porters Neck Rd. traffic accessing Market St. Motorists are advised to avoid this area from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. If you are on the roads during this time please be aware of cyclists sharing the road.

2. Isabella Holmes Bridge
*Please avoid the Isabella Holmes Bridge from 10AM until 6PM , Saturday, October 20, 2012*
Motorists traveling from Wilmington to Brunswick County are asked to use the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and avoid using the Isabella Holmes Bridge and Hwy 421. Traffic delays are probable for southbound traffic on Hwy 421 from I-140 to the Battleship NC from 10AM - 6PM.

The speed limit on the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge is down to just 15 miles per hour to prepare for all the extra drivers.  Wrightsville Beach Police Chief Dan House says police officers will be stationed on either side of the bridge to help direct traffic if it gets backed up.  WPD and New Hanover County Sheriff's deputies will be on hand to help out if needed.  House says the best way to stay safe is to avoid the bridge all together. 

"We don't know what kind of traffic will come off," said House.  "We don't know how bad the triathlon will affect it.  So, if people just plan ahead and know that it may take a little bit more time to get here or get off the island, that will help a lot."

Click on the links below to see course maps for the event:

Full Swim Course Map
Half Swim Course Map

Full Bike Course Map
Half Bike Course Map

Full Run Course Map
Half Run Course Map

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