Travel advice for IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth, Sunday 15 September 2024

4 September 2024

IRONMAN returns to Dorset on Sunday 15 September. Even if you are not planning to watch the event, please make sure you understand the plans for the day as your journey may be affected.

At a glance

IRONMAN is returning to parts of Dorset with a 70.3 mile event
70,000 residents letters have been distributed
Dorset Highways will be providing marshals with local knowledge and highways experience at crucial points along the route
Care providers can request an access pass from the event organisers – many have already been issued.

See the course maps

If you live/work in, or are visiting:

Piddlehinton, Piddletrenthide, Plush, Buckland Newton, Pulham, Kings Stag, Wolfedale Golf Course, Holwell, Glanvilles Wooton, Middlemarsh, Frome Whitfield, Cosmore, Cerne Abbas, Nethercerne, Godmanstone, Fordington, Dorchester, Charlton Down & Charminster – download access information.
Preston Beach Road, Warmwell, Overcombe & Bowleaze, Crossways, Preston & Sutton Poyntz, Higher Woodsford, Lewell, West Stafford, Osmington & Osmington Mills, Moreton, Poxwell & Ringstead, Waddock Cross, Tincleton, Puddleton – download access information.
Preston Beach Road, Came Down Golf Club, Overcombe & Bowleaze, Littlemoor Road, Fordington, Dorchester, Winterbourne Came, Whitcombe, Coombe Valley Road – download access information.

You can find maps of the bike course and running course on the IRONMAN website.

Traffic and parking restrictions

Download the public notice for a comprehensive list of all affected highways.

Restrictions in place for the event will:

Prohibit the use of the roads described in the public notice by cyclists, horse riders and all mechanically-propelled vehicles
Impose temporary one way systems, on roads described in the public notice
Reverse existing one way systems, on roads described in the public notice
Revoke existing one way systems, on roads described in the public notice
Impose a clearway to include no waiting, loading or unloading with tow away authorisation on roads described in the public notice
Revoke the existing loading bay and impose a temporary taxi rank, outside ‘The Gloucester’, 1-20 Gloucester Lodge, The Esplanade, Weymouth
To revoke the existing prohibition of driving order in Lower St Alban Street, which starts at the junction with St Nicholas Street between 6am and 7pm
To suspend the bus lane on the Esplanade (southbound) from Westerhall for its entirety
Impose a temporary 10mph speed limit, as described in the public notice.

Diversions for road closures: There are so many different scenarios, that it would be extremely difficult to recommend alternative routes and so diversions are not being suggested or signed. On this basis, drivers should make judgement based on the roads being closed and plan journeys around them. It is not a mandatory requirement to provide diversions.

Please keep checking back to this information up to and including event day as some amendments to this article could be made.

Travel advice for residents and visitors

We know the road closures and parking restrictions will affect residents, businesses and visitors, so check what’s happening before the day of the event.

If you live in or are visiting somewhere directly off a route that will be closed, you may want to consider:

delaying your journey until the road reopens
moving your vehicle while the roads are open and/or leave it parked off the route so it is not affected by the event
allowing yourself extra travel time and be prepared to wait for access to become available
speaking to a marshal during the event for advice.

On event day, check Live travel disruptions or @TravelDorset on Twitter/X, or search for #IRONMANtraveldorset on social media before you travel and whilst on the move (if it is safe and legal to do so).

Travel advice for businesses

people who travel to work should allow extra time for their journey and check Live travel disruptions or @TravelDorset on Twitter/X, or search for #IRONMANtraveldorset on social media
consider if deliveries affected by the restrictions could be rearranged to avoid disruption on their route. If not, contact the race organisers (details below) preferably before the event to discuss access options
advise your customers of the restrictions in the area.

Access for care providers

To protect vulnerable residents, car passes have been made available on request for social carers and care workers to access service users’ homes and care homes during the event. Contact IRONMAN race control on 03330 11 66 00 if you have any issues on the day.

Access to Household Recycling Centres

Access to both Weymouth and Dorchester’s Household Recycling Centres (HRCs, or “the tip”) will be directly affected by road closures around the IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth event on Sunday 15 September.

Weymouth HRC on Preston Beach Road will be closed all day. Local residents are being urged to take their waste to Portland’s HRC, or wait until the Weymouth site reopens on Monday 16 September.

Dorchester HRC at Louds Mill will be open, but access is likely to be disrupted until early afternoon. Local residents are advised to either delay their journey until later that day, visit Wareham’s HRC, or wait to visit Dorchester HRC on Monday 16 September.

Bus travel

Contact the operator for any planned service changes.

Parking information in Weymouth and Dorchester

Short stay car parks in the town centre will be open as normal
Pavilion car park and Lodmoor Country Park car park will be closed during the event
Minimal disruption is expected to car parks in Dorchester.

Contact details for IRONMAN race organisers

If you have any IRONMAN access questions, please call 03330 11 66 00 or contact weymouth@ironmanroadaccess.com, and provide the following details:

Name
Telephone number
Journey start postcode
Journey end postcode
Time of departure
Details of enquiry.