The Chattanooga Division of Transportation welcomes IRONMAN 70.3 this
weekend on Sunday, May 18, 2025. We recommend that spectators and visitors
park in the lots and garages surrounding downtown and utilize the Free
Electric Shuttle (beginning 9:30 AM Sunday) and Bike Chattanooga bike share
system (24/7).
Public activities start Friday afternoon with the IRONMAN Village and
Official IRONMAN Store opening at Noon on Riverfront Parkway. Both will be
open Saturday from 9 AM until 4 PM and Sunday (race day) from 8 AM until 4
PM.
The Tennessee River will be closed to pleasure crafts between Ross' Landing
and the Hubert Fry Center from 5:00 AM until 10:30 AM on Sunday, May 18th.
This includes the Rivermont Park and Tennessee Riverpark boat ramps.
IRONMAN starts early Sunday morning, May 18th, with shuttle buses
transporting athletes from Ross' Landing to the swim starting location. The
swim portion begins at 6:50 AM and athletes will be transitioning to the
bike race from about 7:15 am until 9:00 am. Traffic will be stopped from
crossing the cyclists' lane when they are present between 8:00 AM and 1:00
PM 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, Frazier Avenue, Barton Avenue, and Riverfront
Parkway between 10:30 AM and 1 PM.
Spectators are encouraged to make the most of this unprecedented
opportunity for Chattanooga. Links to the IRONMAN 70.3 Spectator Guide,
Travel Tips, and maps of the routes can be found on the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3
Chattanooga website <https://www.ironman.com/im703-chattanooga>.
Closure details:
Riverside Drive/Riverfront Parkway between Aquarium Way and Molly Lane,
Chestnut Street between Aquarium Way and Riverfront Parkway, Power Alley
from the parking lot to Riverfront Parkway, and the southbound Veterans
Bridge ramp to Riverside Drive will close Wednesday, May 14th at 9 AM for
the IRONMAN 70.3 setup and will reopen Sunday, May 18th at 9 PM.
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CLOSED OR HAVE LIMITED ACCESS FOR THE BIKE PORTION:
- The right southbound lane of Riverfront Parkway between Molly Lane and W
MLK Blvd - Riverfront Parkway southbound will be fully closed between W MLK Blvd
and Broad Street. All traffic will be directed northbound only - 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
- I-24 on-ramp and Southbound 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 Ave and W 42nd Street / Tennessee Ave and
Virginia Avenue at West 46th Street** will be 4-way Stops from 5:00 am
until 1:00 pm on Sunday, May 19th for the IRONMAN 70.3 bike portion.
Cyclists will also be on Tennessee Avenue and St Elmo Avenue to the state
line, riding with traffic. (**W 46th Street is an updated location, after
public input, this was chosen in place of W 45th Street; The attached
Traffic Impact document erroneously lists W 45th Street.)
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CLOSED OR HAVE LIMITED ACCESS FOR THE RUN PORTION:
- Dedicated bike lane on 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 - Battery Place off-ramp from Riverfront Parkway
- Aquarium Way between Riverfront Parkway and Walnut Street
All streets crossing this route will be controlled by CPD officers to
give right-of-way to the runners from 5:00 am on Sunday, May 18th until
5:00 pm for the IRONMAN 70.3 run portion.
There will be several locations where temporary parking restrictions will
be in place on Sunday, May 18th. This includes Riverfront Parkway, Walnut
Street, and multiple locations within St Elmo. 'Special Event No Parking'
signage will be posted where these restrictions are in place.
Justin Strickland