[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Cycling_sept9_opt.jpg” caption=”Cycling Championship”]McMaster University, including the Downtown Centre, will remain open during the Road World Cycling Championships Oct. 6 to 12.

Exams, classes and programs will continue as usual that week, except for at the Centre for Continuing Education at the Downtown Centre, which will not hold classes during the week of Oct. 6-12. The Hamilton boards of education will close schools for the championships.

While everyone will be able to get to campus and the Downtown Centre, traffic congestion is expected to be heavier than usual, and delays should be anticipated. McMaster employees and students are encouraged to study race routes and schedules, available at http://www.hamilton2003.com to know when affected roads will be closed each day of the event which will determine where congestion occurs on other alternate routes through the city.

Main Street will close between James Street and Queen Street for the duration of the event. Other roads will close one hour prior to the start of each race and will reopen approximately one hour after the finish of each race. Routes and race times will vary each day of the race. Click here for details.

Because of street closures and altered bus routes, some University employees may be interested in scheduling vacations for this time or arranging alternative work schedules. Such arrangements must be consistent with collective agreements, and could include use of vacation time, flexible work schedules, a personal leave day or unpaid leave of absence. Details should be discussed with your supervisor.

There is the potential of ramp closures at the Main Street and Aberdeen Street access points off Highway 403. Ministry of Transportation officials will monitor traffic during the race event to determine if access points should be closed due to traffic congestion on alternative routes. The York Boulevard access point will remain open at all times and will be used for all traffic accessing downtown Hamilton from the 403. There are a number of alternate routes to campus off Highway 403, including Highway 6 and Fiddlers Green Road. Everyone who needs to access the University during this week is encouraged to consider an alternate route to the 403.

Hamilton Street Railway buses will continue normal operations throughout the week and people are encouraged to take the bus to minimize traffic congestion. For bus routes and schedules, click here.

The week-long event is expected to bring up to 250,000 spectators, 1,000 athletes from 50 countries, 750 team support staff, 2,000 to 3,000 volunteers and 800 to 1,000 media into the region and an international television audience of 500 million. Some of the teams expected to attend will be Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, Russia, Germany, USA, Australia and the Netherlands.

A component of the World Championship, the Hamilton 2003 Cycling Festival, will be held at McMaster. The festival will present a series of arts, cultural and entertainment events during the championship. Further details will follow at a later date.

Details of the race, including race routes, can be found at http://www.hamilton2003.com. Brochures with race information also are available at campus libraries, the Compass information centre in the University Student Centre or in the Office of Public Relations.

Photo courtesy: Hamilton 2003 Cycling Championships