NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Cyclists are gearing up for the 3rd annual New Haven Grand Prix on Friday. Some streets will be closed, impacting traffic for much of the day.
Matthew Feiner owns the Devil’s Gear Bike Shop in New Haven. He’s looking forward to the New Haven Grand Prix on Friday. The competition goes beyond the cyclists.
“We’re looking forward to defending the mechanics cup,” Feiner said.
Cyclists will be riding through downtown New Haven, and staff from the shop will be the mechanics during the race.
“It’s where a lot of the action happens for people coming in for repairs, flat tires,” Feiner said.
Since there will be a lot more bikes and people on the roads than usual, it will be less of a smooth ride for drivers downtown. There are signs letting them know what to expect: delays and fun. The city is expecting more than 10,000 people to attend. Officials are trying to minimize the event’s impact on traffic.
“Shutting down some of the roads around rush hour does sound a little crazy for a Friday night,” said Douglas Hausladen, New Haven’s Director of Transportation, Traffic and Parking. “What we’re asking folks to do is have a little patience.”
The closures will start on College Street at around 11 o’clock Friday morning. Most of the closures, including Chapel Street, will happen at around 2 p.m. Elm Street will remain open.
“There’s a little inconvenience for that but I think it’s a little inconvenience for a lot of fun,” said Feiner.
The city is asking people to go around downtown if possible.
“We highly recommend that people, when they’re coming into downtown Friday night for the fun, get off the highway and park right in the Temple Street garage,” said Hausladen.
The roads will reopen around 10 p.m. after the race is over and after crews clean up.
