The annual Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas North American Championship triathlon is scheduled for April 18. It’s a competitive race that brings athletes and spectators from around the world to The Woodlands.
The backstory
Though registration to participate has closed, interested attendees will still have the opportunity to witness professional athletes compete for a portion of the $175,000 pro prize purse. Community Impact previously reported that The Woodlands Township’s convention and visitors bureau, Visit The Woodlands approved the decision to host Ironman Texas until 2030.
What you need to know
According to a news release, the event will attract 3,000 registered athletes to Texas from 49 states and 73 countries, regions and territories. The majority will travel from:
- Within the U.S.
- Mexico
- Canada
- Brazil
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Argentina
The race will consist of:
- 2.4-mile, spectator-lined lake swim
- 112-mile bike run on mostly closed roads
- 26.2-mile run
The impact
According to traffic alerts from The Woodlands Township, residents, visitors and business owners should expect delays leading up to and during the race. Major roadways will have lane reductions, closures and detours as early as 5 a.m. and will last through the evening of April 18.
The township announced the following areas will be the most impacted:
Grogans Mill Road
- Northbound from Woodlands Parkway to Timberloch Place: closed all day until 6:30 p.m.
- Northbound from Sawdust Road to Woodlands Parkway: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Southbound from Timberloch Place to Sawmill Road: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- All intersections between Timberloch Place and Sawmill Road: closed until 6:30 p.m.
Sawdust Road
- From Sawmill Road to Grogans Mill intersection: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Woodlands Parkway (eastbound)
- From John Cooper Drive to Grogans Mill Road: reduced to one lane until approximately noon
- Intersections from John Cooper Drive/Cochran’s Crossing to Grogans Mill: closed until approximately noon
Lake Woodlands Drive
- Eastbound from Lakeside Boulevard to Grogans Mill Road: closed until approximately 11 a.m.
Some roadways will be fully closed or heavily restricted:
- Hardy Tollway (southbound lanes)
- Closed Friday, April 17 at 10 p.m.; reopens April 18 at 6 p.m.
Waterway Avenue
- Closed from Lake Robbins Drive to Timberloch Place: beginning April 17 through midnight April 18
Run course impacts
As the run course begins late morning, additional closures will extend into the evening:
- Lake Woodlands Drive at E. Panther Creek: 11:10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Woodlands Parkway at E. Panther Creek: 11:15 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Woodlands Parkway at Lake Front Circle: 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.
- Timberloch at Woodloch Forest: 11:45 a.m. to midnight
The following roadways will have ongoing closures and reduced lanes throughout the day:
- Lake Robbins Drive and Six Pines Drive area
- Timberloch Place and Grogans Mill Road
- I-45 service roads and nearby connectors
- Springwoods Village, Grand Parkway and Hardy Toll Road connections
- Sawdust Road, Sawmill Road and Budde Road corridors
Closures begin as early as 5 a.m. and may last until 6:30 p.m. or later, depending on the location. For a full overview of high traffic areas, download the info here.
What else
Residents with questions can call the Ironman traffic hotline at 509-713-2742 for real-time updates. To register for alerts from the township, visit the website here.