Ironman Arizona - street closures and transit detours

Transit Service Options

Avoid traffic and parking hassles by taking transit to and from downtown Tempe. Tempe has 13 local bus routes, six free Orbit circulators, the new Streetcar and nine light rail stops. Passengers are encouraged to park at one of the following park-and-ride locations and ride light rail:

• Dorsey and Apache
• McClintock and Apache
• Price and Apache

 Download the Valley Metro app or visit valleymetro.org to plan your trip. 

Street Closures and Restrictions

Several Tempe streets will be closed or restricted for the Ironman Arizona event on Nov. 17. The following street restrictions and closures have been identified; however, others could be put in place to address public safety concerns that occur during the event.

Nov. 16 from 4 a.m. until approximately Nov. 18 at noon:

• Eastbound and westbound Rio Salado Parkway will be closed in both directions between Ash and Mill avenues. 

Nov. 17 from 5:30 a.m. until approximately 6 p.m.:

• Northbound Ash Avenue will be closed between the US Airways garage just north of Third Street and Rio Salado Parkway.
• Eastbound Rio Salado Parkway will be closed between Hardy and McClintock drives.
• Eastbound Rio Salado Parkway will be restricted to one lane between McClintock Drive and Alma School Road.  All northbound traffic at intersecting streets and driveways will be required to turn right (east).  No lefts or through movements will be permitted along this stretch of Rio Salado Parkway.
• Westbound Rio Salado Parkway will be restricted to one lane between Alma School Road and Mill Avenue.
• Westbound Rio Salado Parkway will be closed at Rural Road and McClintock Drive. All westbound traffic must turn right onto northbound Rural Road and McClintock Drive.
• Westbound Rio Salado Parkway will be restricted to one lane between Rural Road and Mill Avenue.
• Westbound Rio Salado Parkway will be closed at Mill Avenue. All westbound traffic must turn right onto northbound Mill Avenue.
• Westbound Rio Salado Parkway will be closed between Mill Avenue and Priest Drive.
• Southbound Mill Avenue will be restricted to one lane between Rolling Hills Golf Course and Washington Street/Curry Road. All southbound traffic must turn right onto westbound Washington Street.
• Southbound Mill Avenue will be closed between Washington Street/Curry Road and Third Street.
• Northbound Mill Avenue will be closed at Third Street.  All northbound traffic must turn right or left on Third Street.
• Southbound Scottsdale Road will be closed at the SR202L.  Local access will be provided to area businesses and residents south of the SR202L.  All southbound traffic will be required to turn right onto westbound Rio Salado Parkway.
• Northbound Rural Road will be closed at Sixth Street. All northbound traffic will be required to turn right or left onto Sixth Street.
• Northbound Hardy Drive will be closed between First Street and Rio Salado Parkway.  Access to the Tempe Center for the Arts will be granted on a limited basis.
• Westbound First Street will be closed at Hardy Drive.  Local access will be provided.
• Northbound Priest Drive will be restricted to one lane between Rio Salado Parkway and Washington Street.
• McClintock Drive will be closed in both directions at Rio Salado Parkway.  All southbound traffic will be required to turn right onto westbound Rio Salado Parkway.
• McClintock Drive will be restricted to one lane southbound between Loop 202 and McClintock Drive. All southbound traffic will be required to turn right onto westbound Curry Road.
• All traffic exiting the eastbound SR202L at Scottsdale Road will be required to turn northbound onto Scottsdale Road.  Local access will be provided to area businesses and residents south of the SR202L.

To find the best parking and access options for any individual business on Mill Avenue, please call the business.

Transit Detours

The following bus detours have been identified; however, others could be put in place to address public safety concerns that occur during the event.

Nov. 16 from 4 a.m. until approximately Nov. 18 at noon:

• Streetcar service will be limited between Dorsey Lane/Apache Blvd. and Ninth Street/Mill Avenue

 Nov. 17 from start of service until 6 p.m.:

• PLEASE NOTE: during the event closures, Orbit Earth will not serve Tempe Marketplace.

• 48 Northbound: Regular route to Rio Salado Parkway /Priest Drive; south on Priest Drive to University Drive; east on University Drive to Ash Avenue; north on Ash Avenue to Fifth Street; east on Fifth Street to Tempe Transportation Center; east on Fifth Street to College Avenue; south on College Avenue to University Dr; east on University Dr to McClintock Dr; north on McClintock Dr to Rio Salado Parkway: east on Rio Salado Parkway: regular route to Tempe Marketplace; east from bus stop to Smith Road; south on Smith Road to Rio Salado Parkway; east on Rio Salado Parkway to resume regular route.
• 48 Southbound: From Tempe Marketplace east from bus stop to Smith Road; south on Smith Road to Rio Salado Parkway; west on Rio Salado Parkway to McClintock Drive; south on McClintock Drive to University Drive; west on University Drive to College Avenue; north on College Avenue to Tempe Transportation Center; west on Fifth Street to Ash Avenue; south on Ash Avenue to University Drive; west on University Drive to Priest Drive; north on Priest Drive to Rio Salado Parkway; west on Rio Salado Parkway to resume regular route.
• Route 62 Northbound: – Regular route north on Hardy Drive to University Drive; east on University Drive to Ash Avenue; north on Ash Avenue to Fifth Street; east on Fifth Street to resume regular route.
• Route 62 Southbound: – From Tempe Marketplace east from bus stop to Smith Road; south on Smith Road to resume regular route; west on Fifth St to Ash Ave; south on Ash Ave to University Dr; west on University Dr to Hardy Dr; south on Hardy Dr; to resume regular route.
• 72 Northbound: Regular route to Rural Road/University Drive; west on University Drive to Priest Drive; north on Priest Drive to Washington Street; east on Washington Street (becomes Curry Road) to Scottsdale Road; north on Scottsdale Road to resume regular route.
• 72 Southbound: Regular route to Scottsdale Road/Curry Rd; west on Curry Road (becomes Washington Street) to Priest Drive; south on Priest Drive to University Drive; east on University Drive to Rural Road; south on Rural Road to resume regular route.
• 81 Northbound: Regular route to Tempe Marketplace; east from bus stop to Smith Road; south on Smith Road to Rio Salado Parkway; east on Rio Salado Parkway to Price Road; north on Price Road; enter Loop 101 north exiting at McDowell Road; west on McDowell Road to Hayden Road; north on Hayden Road to resume regular route.
• 81 Southbound: Regular route south on Hayden Road to McDowell Road; east on McDowell Rd to Loop 101; enter Loop 101 South exiting at Rio Salado Parkway; west on Rio Salado Parkway to Perry Ln.; north on Perry Ln. to Tempe Marketplace; east from bus stop to Smith Road; south on Smith Road to Rio Salado Parkway; west on Rio Salado Parkway to McClintock Drive; south on McClintock Drive to resume regular route
• Earth Eastbound: Regular route to Fifth Street/Mill Avenue; west on Fifth Street to Priest Drive; north on Priest Drive to Washington Street; east on Washington Street (becomes Curry Road) to College Avenue; north on College Avenue to resume regular route; east on Curry Road to Stadem Drive; north on Stadem Drive (becomes Weber Drive) to McClintock Drive; south on McClintock Drive to Curry Road; west on Curry Road to Miller Road; north on Miller Road to layover on northbound Miller Road, far side of Curry Road
• Earth Westbound: Route begins at Curry Road/Miller Road; regular route to College Avenue/Curry Road; west on Curry Road (becomes Washington Street) to Priest Drive; south on Priest Drive to Fifth Street; east on Fifth Street to Mill Avenue; resume regular route.

Nov. 17 from 6 p.m. to the end of service:  

• 48 Northbound: Regular route to Rio Salado Parkway /Priest Drive; south on Priest Drive to University Drive; east on University Drive to Ash Avenue; north on Ash Avenue to Fifth Street; east on Fifth Street to resume regular route.  
• 48 Southbound: Regular route to Fifth Street to Ash Avenue; south on Ash Avenue to University Drive; west on University Drive to Priest Drive; north on Priest Drive to Rio Salado Parkway; west on Rio Salado Parkway to resume regular route.  
• Route 62 Northbound: – Regular route north on Hardy Drive to University Drive; east on University Drive to Ash Avenue; north on Ash Avenue to Fifth Street; east on Fifth Street to resume regular route.  
• Route 62 Southbound: – Regular route to Fifth St and Ash Ave; south on Ash Ave to University Dr; west on University Dr to Hardy Dr; south on Hardy Dr; to resume regular route.