Calgary

Tour of Alberta kicks off 5 days of road closures, festivals

Expect road and highway closures on the long weekend because of the Tour of Alberta, a road cycling race spread out over five days.

Race attracts cyclists from all over the world

Racers ride past open fields near Edmonton during the Tour of Alberta cycling race, a staged race held over five days. (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson)

Drivers can expect road and highway closures on the long weekend because of the Tour of Alberta, a road cycling race spread out over five days.

The race attracts 120 cyclists from around the world, as well as fans who attend the free festivals at the start and end of each leg of the race.

Here's an overview of the road closures.

Sept. 1: Lethbridge 

  • Fourth Avenue South and Scenic Drive North will be closed between 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
  • The ramp exiting Highway 3 onto Scenic Drive will be closed between 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
  • Third Avenue South from Scenic Drive to Stafford Drive will be closed all day.
On Sept. 1 the race will be held in Lethbridge. The map above shows the route. (Tour of Alberta)

Sept. 2: Kananaskis Country to Olds 

  • Highway 40 will be closed from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Westbound Highway 1 will be closed from 1:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
  • Highway 1X will be closed from 1:10 p.m. to 1:25 p.m.
  • Westbound Highway 1A between Highway 1X and Cochrane will be closed from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Speed will be reduced to 40 km/h eastbound on Highway 1A between Highway 1X and Cochrane from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Highway 1A through Cochrane will be closed from 2:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
  • Westbound Highway 1A east of Cochrane to Highway 766 will be closed from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Speed will be reduced to 40 km/h eastbound on Highway 1A, east of Cochrane to Hwy 766, from 2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
  • Rolling closures from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Highway 766 will affect all Township Roads between Highway 1A and Highway 27, and Highways 567, 574, 580 and 582.
  • Rolling closures from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Highway 27.
  • Westbound Highway 27 between Highway 766 and Olds will be closed from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Speed limit will be reduced to 40 km/h eastbound on Highway 27 between Highway 766 and Olds between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
  • Highway 27 in Olds will be closed from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
On Sept. 2 the race will travel through Kananaskis Country to Olds. The map above shows the route. (Tour of Alberta)

Sept. 3: Drayton Valley to Rocky Mountain House

  • Highway 598 will be closed from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Highway 761 will be closed from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
  • Highway 12 will be closed from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
  • Rolling closures from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Highway 22 southbound and from Highway 12 to Highway 616, affecting all Township Roads between Highways 12 and 39 and Highways 53 and 13.
  • Speed limit will be reduced to 40 km/h northbound on Highway 22, from Highway 12 to Highway 616, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
  • Highway 616 west of Highway 22 will be closed from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
  • Highway 39 between Highway 22 and Drayton Valley will be closed from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Highway 22 in Drayton Valley between 50 Avenue and Jubilee Avenue will be closed between 4:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
On Sept. 3 the racers will travel from Drayton Valley to Rocky Mountain House. The map above shows the route. (Tour of Alberta)

Sept. 4: Edmonton

  • Road closures on Groat Road, River Valley Road and William Hawrelak Park Road from noon to 6:00 p.m.
On Sept. 4 racers will tour Edmonton from noon to 6 p.m. The map above shows the route. (Tour of Alberta)

Sept. 5: Edmonton

  • Road closures on 95 Street, 100 Avenue, 102 Avenue, 102A Avenue, 103 Avenue, 103 Street from noon to 6 p.m.
  • 107 Street, Bellamy Hill Road, Fortway Drive, Grierson Hill, River Valley Road, Rossdale Road and Victoria Park Road from noon to 6 p.m.
The race will continue in Edmonton on Sept. 5 from noon to 6 p.m. The map above shows the route. (Tour of Alberta)