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Road closures in effect for Ironman

Volunteers sought for toad migration
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The fifth running of Subaru Ironman Canada will see a number of road closures similar to the first four years.

As nearly 3,000 athletes get set to compete in both the full- and half-distance events on Sunday, July 30, residents will need to plan ahead if they need to travel around Whistler and Pemberton.

Two roads in Whistler will be affected before race day, as Blackcomb Way West from Village Gate Boulevard to Lorimer Road will be closed from Friday, July 28 at 8 a.m. until Monday, July 31 at 8 a.m. As well, Alta Lake Road from Nita Lake Drive to Buckhorn Drive will be closed from Saturday, July 29 at 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. That same section will be the first to close on race day, shutting from 4 to 11 a.m.

Other race day closures start to take effect at 7 a.m., with Rainbow Drive from Buckhorn Drive to Alpine Way and Alpine Way from Rainbow to Highway 99 closing until 11 a.m. Highway 99 southbound from Alpine Way to Callaghan Valley Road will be closed from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m., while the section from Portage Road to Alpine Way will be closed southbound from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Next, Highway 99 northbound between Alpine Way and Portage Road will close from 8:45 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

The next set of closures starts at 11 a.m., with Gateway Drive closing between Whistler Way and Village Gate Boulevard until 5:30 p.m., Blackcomb Way West closing from Lorimer Road to Nancy Greene Drive until 11:30 p.m., and Village Gate between Gateway and Blackcomb closing until midnight.

Lastly, west-side access to Highway 99 between Alpine Way and Whistler Cay Drive will close between 1 and 5:30 p.m.

Northbound traffic on Highway 99 up to Alpine Way will not be impeded at all during the event, though left turns will not be allowed off the highway between Callaghan Valley Road and Blueberry Drive between 7 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., or between Whistler Cay Drive and Emerald Drive between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

In Pemberton, the downtown area will be affected from the Highway 99-Portage Road intersection to the Pemberton Meadows Road-Pemberton Farm Road intersection from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Pemberton Meadows Road will be closed from the Pemberton Meadows Road-Pemberton Farm Road intersection to the end of the paved area between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. As well, Highway 99 southbound will be closed from Portage Road to Alpine Way from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Complete information is available at www.whistler.ca.

Toad migration volunteers May be needed on race day

The western toad migration is nearing, and may be underway during Subaru Ironman Canada.

The Resort Municipality of Whistler predicts the migration will begin between July 28 and Aug. 4, and if the toads have indeed started migrating prior to July 30, volunteers will be required on race day for a three-hour shift between noon and 8 p.m. to ensure the toadlets are not on the Valley Trail during the running portion of the race.

Other volunteer opportunities will be available at Lost Lake Park during the migration, which is expected to last between two and three weeks. Volunteers will be asked to commit to at least a three-hour scheduled shift and a two-hour drop-in shift during the migration to inform visitors about closures and detours, as well as educate them about western toads. Volunteers will also move toadlets by hand out of high-risk areas and otherwise supervise the migration.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up at fishnwildlife@whistler.ca.