Ironman bike plan advances
Posted: Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 - 10:55:49 pm PST
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff writer
Two of three cities sign off on welcoming route; Hayden sets aside $10K for traffic controlHAYDEN – Changing the Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene’s bike course from Post Falls to Hayden is nearing reality.
Although the route hasn’t been finalized, the cities of Hayden and Dalton Gardens have signed off on having the triathlon’s 112-mile course run through their jurisdictions on June 24.
Hayden Lake is reviewing the proposal and is expected to decide on Dec. 19.
“If the Hayden Lake approval goes through, there’s a pretty good indication that we’ll proceed with this,” said Andy Emberton, local Ironman director. "(The proposal) finally seems to be coming around. I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to make this change.
“There’s still a few minor details, but we may get to those before the next Hayden Lake council meeting.”
Emberton said he’s awaiting the Idaho Transportation Department’s timetable for construction on Government Way.
Jay Townsend, Hayden city administrator, said the city would prefer to have the course on Government Way because it would bring economic benefits to downtown. The idea of having Hayden Days coincide with Ironman in June is being bantered around.
“We see Ironman as a signature event that would draw people to our downtown,” he said.
Other possibilities are Strahorn Road and Maple Street.
“We don’t have that many north-south connections,” Townsend said. “It all depends on what they feel is the best route for the experience of their athletes.”
Lynn Hagman, Hayden Lake city clerk, said the proposed route that the city is considering includes: north on Fourth Street to Honeysuckle; Strahorn, east on Hayden; and north on Lakeview Drive to Rimrock and English Point Road. Emberton said the route would extend into the county.
In Dalton Gardens, the proposed course would come up 15th Street from Coeur d’Alene and connect to Fourth, but Dalton Gardens councilman Steve Roberge said he didn’t know where.
Hayden has already set aside $10,000 in its 2007 budget for traffic control and security during Ironman, Townsend said.
“We have always had a contract with a security company and we’d amend that to support this event,” he said.
The move is opposite of Post Falls’ stance, which has asked for reimbursement for extra city services used during the event because Ironman is an out-of-state, for-profit company. Those expenses have been about $11,000 per race and have been split between Ironman and the Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce.
Emberton earlier said that the route switch would be for biker safety reasons rather than a political one. Post Falls’ growth and its increase in traffic have become a concern, he said.
Roberge said Dalton Gardens would not be able to offer any reimbursement.
“We’re excited about (the event) and believe that it would be a good thing for the community,” Roberge said.
Hagman said Hayden Lake wants clearance from Hayden Lake Country Club, which is on Lakeview, and more information on traffic control before making a decision.
Emberton said the proposed change has taken more time than he originally thought due to the approval process. He declined to discuss the proposed route until it is finalized.
Coeur d’Alene’s downtown and City Park are the hub for the race, which also includes a 2.4-mile swim and a 26.2-mile run.
The original Ironman bike course was proposed to be in the Hayden area