Cyclists coming to Niagara

Residents from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Pelham are bracing themselves for major traffic gridlock on Saturday. That’s when thousands cyclists from around the world take over Niagara roads, racing in the “Elite Granfondo” competition.   Lauran Sabourin tells us what areas to avoid if you’ll be in the area.

This is what the GranFondo race will look like. Thousands of cyclists moving through the Niagara region.

It starts on the Niagara Parkway Saturday morning and runs through Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and around Short Hills Provincial Park in Pelham. A grueling 125 kilometres.

Mike Kelly lives in one of the blocked neighbourhoods: “It’s a big day for us. I’m going to bring my kids. We’ll be at the end of the street when the cyclists go by with our cow bells”

The main road closes at 7:15 Saturday morning. Kelly’s neighbour, Kathrin Leaung is getting out of town on Friday:

“It sounds like it’s not just us getting out of here. It sounds like it’ll be more difficult on other roads. I don’t know if York Road’s going to be affected.”

Dozens of roads will be closed for hours. The signs are up already. More than 100 officers will be on traffic duty. All paid for by GranFondo. Niagara police will be tweeting out when each road re-opens.

“The westbound lanes of the Thorold tunnel will be blocked for hours. If you want to travel from east to west you’re going to have to take the QEW or Highway 20.”

The only way out of these blocked neighbourhoods would be by ambulance. Brad and Judy Kempston say they’re feeling trapped.

“It’s kind of scary in a way. Because there’s no other way out of here. Nothing’s going to move along here, I feel sorry for Eagle Valley Golf Course.”

Adam Christie from Eagle Valley says they had to cancel their Saturday tournament.”

“We are going to be closed from 7:30 to at least 12;30 Saturday morning. So we will be closed, nothing going on. But we’re in the tourist industry; we know what this does for tourism.”

Marissa Saczkowski can’t open her fruit stand Saturday morning.

“My customers don’t come. I don’t like it. I’m not complaining. What can I do?”

Now there isn’t much people in the affected areas can do. If they want to leave, they have to get out before 7 in the morning. And even getting a hotel room may not be an option. This weekend, many hotels in Niagara Falls are booked solid.