IRONMAN impacts traffic this weekend, here are closures and alternate routes

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Thousands of athletes and spectators will be descending on The Woodlands – if most of them haven’t already – for Saturday’s 2023 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Champion Texas triathlon, an all-day, grueling gathering of those wishing to prove their mettle with a 2.4-mile, point-to-point swim in Lake Woodlands, a 112-mile two-loop bike course on the Hardy Toll Road, and one of the most spirited 26.2-mile marathons ever.

If you’ve lived here in The Woodlands for more than a year, you’ll know this is a day where multiple road closures and the sheer amount of people here make for a bad day for a leisurely drive. While many news outlets are advising Woodlands area residents to ‘hunker down’ for the day, Woodlands Online instead wants to tell you what will be shut down and where, and how to avoid the major traffic snarls.

Bike Race Closures / Detours

Early Saturday morning – around 6 o’clock – the road crews will start blocking off the path of the bike race between Town Green Park and the Hardy Toll Road. If you’re anywhere near the east of Panther Creek in the Woodlands Parkway / Lake Woodlands Drive part of town, expect detours. If you’re trying to get to the south part of town, take Gosling to Flintridge to Glen Loch to Sawdust, avoiding Grogan’s Mill entirely. If you’re trying to get north, just take Gosling and you’ll have easy access anywhere above Lake Woodlands Drive. But bear in mind that I-45 itself will be jam-packed, as the Hardy Toll road itself will be closed.

The bike race closings will take place progressively east as the morning continues. Closures from Grogan’s Mill south of Woodlands Parkway to the Sawdust / Budde area will open up around 11 a.m., but expect closures around Pruitt Road through 6:30 that evening.

Marathon Closures / Detours

Of course, the bike race is only the second part of the triathlon (while there are no road closures per se for the opening swimming race, be aware of lots of spectator traffic). The third and final leg is the full marathon, 26.2 miles of pavement-pounding. The closures for the foot-race will commence around 10 o’clock in the morning, and – due to the rules of the competition – runners have until around midnight to complete the course (and several will take that long), and for the most part these closures will have to remain in place until then.

In short, you’ll want to conduct any business or pleasure that involves driving anywhere along Lake woodlands Drive between Panther Creek and I-45 way before lunchtime. Avoid Panther Creek and Woodlands Parkway as well; this day, Gosling and Kuykendahl will be your best friends to get around the western reaches of The Woodlands – anything east of that, prepare to get your exercise with your feet, bike, or other unmotorized transportation. The entire Waterway area will be closed to traffic, not only for the safety of the runners, but also to accommodate the thousands of cheering spectators camped out near the finish line.

Let the Township do the Driving

In case you think we here at Woodlands Online are all doom and gloom, there is some good news along here. The Woodlands Township has special trolley service for the Hughes Landing / Market Street / Woodlands Mall area, providing constant service along Lake Woodlands Drive between Restaurant Row and the I’45 feeder road. Note the map included in this story to see which normal trolley stops and routes will be on hiatus for the day.

If you’re wanting to support the athletes but from the comfort of your home, live race coverage of the event will air on www.IRONMAN.com/LIVE, and also on the IRONMAN YouTube and Facebook channels. Coverage will begin with a pre-race show at 6:00 a.m. that previews the pro field and course, while also including exclusive interviews with triathlon personalities and other special guests.

Finally, stay tuned to Woodlands Online all day Saturday; we’ll be providing live updates on our social media sites (@WoodlandsOnline) from opening starter pistol’s shot to final crossing of the finish line.