Chattanooga DOT welcomes IRONMAN this weekend. Officials recommend that spectators and visitors park in the lots and garages surrounding downtown and utilize the Free Electric Shuttle and Bike Chattanooga bike share system. The Electric Shuttle will have extended hours for IRONMAN on Sunday beginning at 4 a.m. and the last shuttle will end at 12:20 a.m. There will also be extra shuttles running the route. Bike Chattanooga Ambassadors will be at bike share stations to assist folks renting a bike.
Public activities start Thursday evening with the IRONKID's race at 6 p.m. on Riverfront Parkway. The IRONMAN Expo area will be open on the Chattanooga Green from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
The Tennessee River will be closed to pleasure crafts between Ross's Landing and the Chickamauga Dam from 5-10:30 a.m. on Sunday. This includes the Rivermont Park and Tennessee Riverpark boat ramps.
Ironman starts early Sunday morning with the swim portion at 7:20 a.m. and athletes will be transitioning to the bike race from about 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Traffic will be stopped from crossing the cyclists' lane when they are present between 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Riverfront Parkway, West 20th Street, Broad Street, Market Street, and Alton Park Boulevard. Runners will be on the Riverwalk, Amnicola Highway, the Veterans Bridge, Barton Avenue, Hixson Pike, and Riverview Road between 12:25 p.m. and 12 a.m.
Spectators are encouraged to make the most of this opportunity for Chattanooga. Links to the Ironman Spectator Guide, Travel Tips, and maps of the routes can be found on CDOT’s special events page.
Closure details:
Riverside Drive/Riverfront Parkway between Aquarium Way and Molly Street, Chestnut Street between Aquarium Way and Riverfront Parkway, and the southbound Veterans Bridge ramp to Riverside Drive will be closed from 9 a.m. Wednesday until 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, for the IRONMAN setup and race.
The right eastbound lane of Riverfront Parkway between Molly Lane and Market Street, the right southbound lane of Market Street between West 20th Street and West 40th Street, West 40th Street between Alton Park Blvd and Tennessee Avenue, and the I-24 on ramp and South bound off ramp at Market Street will be closed and all streets crossing this route will be controlled by CPD officers. The intersections of St Elmo Avenue and Virginia Avenue at West 45th Street will be 4 way Stops from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday for the IRONMAN bike portion. Cyclists will also be on Tennessee Avenue and St Elmo Avenue to the state line, riding with traffic.
The right eastbound lane of Frazier Avenue between Forest Avenue and the Veterans Bridge, the right northbound lane of Barton Avenue between Frazier avenue and Baker Street, the right northbound lane of the Veterans Bridge between East 3rd Street and Barton Avenue, the right westbound lane of Amnicola Highway between Old Curtain Pole Road and Lindsay Street, Riverside Drive between Lindsay Street and Molly Lane, the Battery Place off ramp from Riverside Drive, Aquarium Way between Riverside Drive and Walnut Street will be closed and all streets crossing this route will be controlled by CPD officers to give right-of-way to the runners from 12:25 pm on Sunday until 12 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, for the IRONMAN run portion.