Traffic Alert - El Tour de Tucson

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NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Erica Frazelle
Public Information Officer
Department of Transportation & Mobility 
Erica.Frazelle@tucsonaz.gov
(520) 429-9646

TRAFFIC ALERT
EL TOUR DE TUCSON

On Saturday, November 18, 2023, the 40^th Annual El Tour de Tucson will take place throughout the community. The following travel restrictions and road closures will be in place for the day-long event.

Downtown Road Closures – On Friday, November 17, 2023, beginning at 6 a.m., Cushing Street from Stone Avenue to El Paso Avenue will be closed to motorists.

On Saturday, beginning at 4 a.m., Sixth Avenue from 15^th Avenue to 22^nd Street will be closed to all motorists. Sixth Avenue from 15^th Avenue to Stone Avenue will reopen at 11:30 a.m.

On Saturday, beginning at 4:00 a.m., Stone Avenue  from 14^th Avenue to 18^th Street will be closed to all motorists. This area is scheduled to reopen at 12:30 p.m.

Expect additional street closures in the downtown area, including Main Avenue, 12^th Street, Simpson Street, 15^th Street and Fourth Avenue between 4:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Additional Road Closures Include:

• Alvernon Way southbound from Valencia Road to Aerospace Parkway will be closed from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Aviation Parkway eastbound from Broadway Boulevard to Golf Links Road will be closed, including on and off ramps, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Valencia Road eastbound at the Kolb Road righthand turn will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Driveway Road and Dawn Road will be closed at Houghton Road from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Continental Road from Camino Casa Verde to Duval Mine Road will be closed to all traffic from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Mission Road northbound from Duval Mine Road to Helmet Peak Road will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

On Ramp and Off Ramp Closures Include:

• I-10 and Houghton Road Traffic Interchange from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.:
  • The I-10 westbound on-ramp will be closed.
  • The I-10 eastbound off-ramp will be closed.
  • The eastbound I-10 on-ramp and westbound off-ramp will remain open.
• The I-10 and Valencia Road Traffic Interchange from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.:
  • The I-10 eastbound off-ramp will be closed.
  • The eastbound on-ramp and all westbound ramps will remain open.
• The I-10 and Sixth Avenue Traffic Interchange from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:
  • The I-10 eastbound off-ramp will be closed.
  • The I-10 eastbound on-ramp and all westbound ramps will remain open.

• The I-19 and Continental Road Traffic Interchange from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.:
  • The I-19 northbound and southbound off-ramps will be closed.
  • The northbound and southbound on-ramps will remain open.
  • The I-19 east side and west side Frontage Roads will remain open. Left turns from the west side Frontage Road onto westbound Continental Road will be restricted. 
• The I-19 and Sahuarita Road Traffic Interchange from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.:
  • The I-19 northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramp will be closed.
  • The I-19 northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp will remain open.

All roadways are anticipated to reopen as the last rider passes through the closures, with all roadways scheduled to reopen by 5 p.m.

There will be additional traffic restrictions regionally to accommodate this event. Emergency services personnel will be allowed to travel through the closures in case of an emergency.

El Tour de Tucson is Arizona’s largest and longest-running bicycling event. Held annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, El Tour is a fundraising adventure ride attracting cyclists of all ages and abilities from throughout the United States and worldwide. Further information about El Tour de Tucson, including route maps, can be found at https://eltourdetucson.org/.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early in order to avoid traffic detours necessary for the event. Please note that pedestrian and bicycle access will be maintained in and around road closures. Businesses, parking garages and parking lots are open and accessible.

Motorists may experience lengthy traffic delays associated with this event, so please plan accordingly. The traveling public should use caution when driving, bicycling or walking in these areas. Please watch for event participants, obey all traffic control, and watch for detour signs and personnel providing traffic control.

For questions regarding the event and related road closures, please contact Director Steve Rivera at (520) 661-5302 or the event hotline at (520) 745-2033.