'El Tour De Tucson' Saturday Brings Road Closures

TUCSON, AZ – El Tour de Tucson’s 37th annual rendition this Saturday provides a fundraising adventure ride for state, national and international cyclists. As the state’s longest-running and largest bicycling event, the 100-mile El Tour de Tucson also brings some downtown Tucson road closures to facilitate its sheer volume of more than 9,000 expected riders.

Here are the Tucson road closures that residents and visitors should be aware of:

— Closed now through Saturday at 10 p.m.: 6th Avenue from 12th Street to 13th Street

— Closed Friday at 5 p.m.-Saturday at 10 p.m.: 13th Street and 12th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

— Closed Friday at 5 p.m.-Saturday at 6 p.m.: 6th Avenue south of Broadway to 22nd Street

— Closed Saturday 5-8 a.m.: 15th Street from 6th Avenue to 4th Avenue

— Closed Saturday 5-8 a.m.: 4th Avenue from 15th Street to Broadway

— Closed Saturday 7-8 a.m.: Eastbound Broadway bus lane from 4th Avenue to Barraza-Aviation Parkway

The City of Tucson advises those riding in the El Tour de Tucson to get to the starting point at Armory Park on 6th Avenue and 13th Street early enough to avoid traffic restrictions, although bicycle and pedestrian access is still available around and through road closures. Parking lots, parking garages and businesses in the downtown Tucson area will remain accessible too.

The event's primary beneficiary is Banner Children's at Diamond Children's Medical Center in Tucson. Other beneficiaries include the ALS Association Arizona, Ben's Bells Project, Beyond Tucson, Easterseals Blake Foundation, Friends of PACC, Ride for a Tu Nidito Child, Ronald McDonald House and many others. Riders can select the charity they want to ride for.

El Tour de Tucson is for all ability levels and ages, and riders can opt out of 100 miles in favor of 25- or 50-mile rides. Or they can embark on "fun rides" of 1/4, 1, 4 or 10 miles, according to PerimeterBicycling.com.