On Thursday, April 19, through Sunday, April 22, 2018, hundreds of bicyclists and their families are expected to visit Pitt and Beaufort Counties to participate in the 2018 Cycle North Carolina Coastal Ride. With a variety of planned routes ranging from 10 to 100 miles, Pitt County is anticipating and preparing for traffic and roadway impacts throughout the entire weekend; with particular focus on Sunday, April 22, when routes are planned to pass through portions of the County.
Pitt County Emergency Management (PCEM) has been coordinating with Beaufort County Emergency Management, in addition to various agency partners including law enforcement, public safety, fire/ems and NCDOT, in preparation for any possible community impacts from this event. Several roadways and heavy traffic corridors in the south-eastern parts of Pitt County could see traffic delays or slowed commutes, as three of the five planned routes for Sunday pass into these areas.
Affected roads/areas include:
Black Jack Area: Dixon Rd., Blackjack-Simpson Rd., Stokestown Saint John Rd., NC-43 N., Lester Mills Rd., Mills Rd.
Ayden Area: Emma Cannon Rd., Ayden Golf Club Rd., NC-102 W., South Blount St., S West Ave., E 1st St., East Power St., Hines Drive, Hines Drive Ext., Ivy Rd.
Grimesland Area: Mobleys Bridge Rd., Blackjack Grimesland Rd., NC-33 E., River St., 1st St., Grimesland Bridge Rd., Clarks Neck Rd.
Aid Stations (Event Stopping Points) will also be setup at the Black Jack Fire Department, Town of Ayden (West Avenue Stage), and the Grimesland Community Park.
Currently, 1800 bicyclists have registered for this event, with Cycle NC projecting the total attendance to be between 2,300 - 2,500 people. Although this event is not affiliated with, or endorsed by Pitt County, PCEM staff is encouraging everyone to welcome these visitors to our community; and to anticipate impacts to local roadways, be patient, and plan travel accordingly.
For more information on the 2018 Coastal Ride, visit Cycle NC Coastal Ride at: https://app.racereach.com/event/cycle-north-carolina-coastal-ride/details#about.
