The Tour of Missouri is a 600-mile, six-day world-class race that features point-to-point racing. The race Starts in Kansas City, September 11 and concludes September 16 in St. Louis. It includes legs to Clinton, Springfield, Branson, Lebanon, Columbia, Jefferson City, and St. Charles. The race features some of the world’s top professional cycling teams.
The race is sanctioned by the UCI, the international governing body for cycling, and USA Cycling, the national governing body for cycling.When Branson hosts a portion of the first ever Tour of Missouri bike race next Thursday (September 13), residents and visitors need to be aware of some changes in traffic flow along the bike route in the north part of the city.
About 120 professional cyclists will be participating in the Time Trials, an 18-mile long course that begins at Branson Landing and ends at the Shepherd of the Hills Farm on West Highway 76. The race begins at 11 a.m. and ends about 3 p.m. The cyclists will start from Branson Landing at one-minute intervals and then head north to Branson Hills Parkway where the cyclists turn westward towards Highway 248.
According to Branson Police Chief Caroll McCullough, the following streets in the city limits will be totally or partially closed to regular traffic from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day.
Parnell Drive east of the roundabout will be closed. Residents in that neighborhood should use Compton Drive to enter and exit their homes.\
The northbound, outside lane of Branson Landing Boulevard will be closed for the bike route, but the other northbound lane and the two southbound lanes will remain open. The north lane used for racing will be fenced off, but there will be access to businesses along the east side of Branson Landing Boulevard, and officers will be at the entrances to direct traffic in and out of businesses.
At the U.S. Highway 65 intersection, the cyclists head north on 65 and one lane of that highway will be closed as well as the northbound exit ramp at the Bee Creek interchange.
The cyclists then turn west at the Bee Creek interchange on Branson Hills Parkway to Wintergreen Road. They go north on Wintergreen and then west on Ozark Scenic Drive behind
Home Depot and back to Branson Hills Parkway where the route turns westward. Race marshals will be stationed on Wintergreen and Ozark Scenic Drive to escort residents and businesses in getting to and from their places during the race:
Both westbound lanes of Branson Hills Parkway will be closed from the Target Store to Missouri Highway 248. The eastbound lanes remain open. People wanting to access the Branson RecPlex will have to use Highway 248 only.
The cyclists turn north on Highway 248 and continue the race on roads in the county.
Highway 76 will also be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Shepherd of the Hills Expressway west to the Highroad to allow race officials to set up the finish line at the Shepherd of the Hills Farm. Persons wanting to go to Silver Dollar City or Branson West will be detoured on Highway 376 over to Highway 265 and back to Highway 76.
“We just urge motorists to drive cautiously and watch for officers, spectators, and racing signs when traveling in that part of town on the 13th,” said McCullough. “We don’t anticipate any problems, and there will be plenty of locations along the route where spectators can view the race.”