Police plan major road closures in Iowa for July 25-26 cycling event

The Oskaloosa, IA, police announced the city will have major road closures for its 2013 Ragbrai cyclist event Thursday, July 25 and Friday, July 26.  Ragbrai officials are expecting approximately 20,000 cyclists and support personnel to be coming into Oskaloosa during that time, according to the Oskaloosa News.

The Oskaloosa police announced that the following roads will be closed to through traffic:

• 11^th Avenue West from Joiner Avenue to South F Street from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on the 25 of July.
• 11^th Avenue West will again be closed from Edmundson drive to South Market Street on July 26from approximately 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on July 26.
• South H Street from 11^th Avenue West to High Avenue West from 8:00 a.m. on July 25until approximately 12:00 p.m. on July 26.
• High Avenue West from South H Street to North I Street from 8:00 a.m. on July 25until approximately 12:00 p.m. on July 26.
• North I Street from High Avenue West to M Avenue West from approximately 8:00 a.m. on July 25until 12:00 p.m. on July 26.
• M Avenue West from North I Street to Green Street from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on July 25.
• M Avenue West from North I Street to Green Street from approximately 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on July 26.
• Orchard Avenue from Green Street to the roundabout on Highway 432 from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on July 25.
• Orchard Avenue from Green Street to the roundabout on Highway 432 from 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on July 26.
• 15^th Avenue East from South Market to South 11^th Street from 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on July 26.
• 17^th Avenue East from South 11^th Street to Highway 23 from 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on July 26.
• The downtown area from Market Street to Third Street and A Avenue East to Third Avenue East will also be closed from 6:00 a.m. on July 25 until approximately 3:00 a.m. on the 26of July.
• Market street (Highway 63) traffic will be detoured from South Market Street along 15^th Avenue East to South 11^th Street and back north to A Avenue East (Highway 92).

The police are asking motorists to avoid these roads with vehicular traffic during these times.  Residents in these areas will be allowed but the roads will be closed to through traffic.

The police are also asking all drivers use extreme caution and watch for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the city.