Traffic details for Ironman Beach2Battleship Triathlon

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — More than 2,000 athletes from around the world are expected to participate in this weekend’s Ironman 70.3 Triathlon.

The triathlon features a 1.2-mile swim at Wrightsville Beach, a 56-mile bike ride up Hwy 421 to Pender County and back, and a 13.1-mile run that loops from downtown Wilmington to Greenfield Lake.

The City of Wilmington asks drivers to avoid the course whenever possible or be aware of cyclists sharing the road. The race begins at 7:00 a.m. and should be finished by 4:30 p.m.

Here’s some of the key traffic hotspots.

• The bridge to and from Wrightsville Beach will have significantly increased traffic until 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
• Traffic delays are probable from 7-9:45 a.m. for traffic leaving Wrightsville Beach on Eastwood Road.
• The right lane of Eastwood Road will be closed to motorists from the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge to Market Street. The right lane of MLK Parkway will also be closed to motorists through the Isabel Holmes Bridge.
• Drivers traveling from Wilmington to Brunswick County are asked to use the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and avoid using the Isabel Holmes Bridge and Hwy 421.

This isn’t the full triathlon that used to take place in Wilmington. Last year, Ironman’s official website announced they were discontinuing the Ironman North Carolina and instead focusing on Ironman 70.3 North Carolina, which is half the length of a full-distance Ironman triathlon.

For a complete look at the course and road impacted, click here.