Ironman 70.3 Oregon 2024: Road closures, traffic impacts in Salem

The Ironman 70.3 Oregon endurance competition is making a highly-anticipated return to Salem for its fourth iteration of the annual event on Sunday.

Widely considered one of the fastest courses on the Ironman circuit, the Ironman features a 1.2-mile swim in the Willamette River, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. Last year, Lionel Sanders won the men’s pro division in 3 hours, 33 minutes 37 seconds. Danielle Lewis won the pro women’s division in 3:59:41.

Once again, this year’s event has sold out and is expected to draw more than 2,500 athletes and supporters to Salem. It will offer age group qualifying slots to the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in November 2025 in Marbella, Spain.

Travel Salem is the main host of the event, along with City of Salem, Travel Oregon, the Willamette Valley Visitors Association, and Sport Oregon. It estimates that Ironman 70.3 Oregon will generate approximately $11 million in economic impact for the Salem area.

The race begins at 6 a.m. Sunday and is expected to wrap up around 4:30 p.m.

The race begins with the 1.2-mile swim in the Willamette River, a 56-mile bike ride from River Road S. toward the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, and finishes with a 13.1-mile run through Salem’s Minto-Brown Island Park.

Road closures and traffic information for Ironman 70.3 Oregon

For the majority of the event, several road closures will be in effect throughout the race course. According to City of Salem officials, residents along the race course will receive information about these changes, and signs will be posted to alert drivers to potential traffic disruptions throughout the day.

• Vehicles traveling between Salem and Independence on River Road South should use alternate routes between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. as the road will be impacted by the event.
• Street reopening: Roads will reopen for normal use once the street portion of the bicycle race is completed.

Lane restrictions and road closures set for 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday

• Front Street SE to Trade Street SE (Southbound): Two lanes closed, one lane open for vehicle traffic.
• Commercial Street SE (Southbound): Two lanes closed, one lane open for vehicle traffic.
• Mission Street (Commercial Street to Saginaw Street S): Local traffic only.
• Saginaw Street S (Mission Street to Owens Street): Local traffic only.
• Owens Street to River Road South: Local traffic only.
• River Road South to Ankeny Nature Preserve: Local traffic only.

Park closures in Salem for Ironman 70.3 Oregon

Riverfront Park, Minto-Brown Island Park, and Wallace Marine Park will remain open during the event. But access and parking will be limited.

• Riverfront Park Boat Dock — closed from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Wallace Marine Boat Dock — closed from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge — closed to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney