Weekend's bike race will impact traffic in Schaumburg, Elk Grove

Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village officials want residents and motorists to be as prepared for the traffic impact of this weekend's three-day professional bike race as the athletes are for the cardiovascular workout.

The main race route along Tonne Road and Elk Grove Boulevard will be the same as in previous years for this third annual Tour of Elk Grove, Friday through Sunday.

But Saturday's 90-mile leg is the first time any Schaumburg streets will play a part.

The 3:30 p.m. race that begins at Alexian Field in Schaumburg is expected to have its entire impact between 2 and 7 p.m., though many of the affected streets will have their access limited for only a small part of that period.

"The people who live along the route have already received two letters," said Schaumburg's Director of Transportation June Johnson.

These residents will get a third notice hand-delivered to their homes this week, and all Schaumburg residents will receive notification along with their water bills on Thursday.

While minimal delays in driving in or out of driveways along the route are anticipated, Johnson suggested residents avoid these by parking around the corner on streets not on the route.

Since word began getting out, Johnson has gotten about 15 inquiries from residents. Most of these were easily answered questions, while others required just a little more guidance in the handling of family gatherings on Saturday afternoon.

But so far no one has claimed any kind of hardship from the road closures, Johnson said.

It's expected that the field of 175 professional bicyclists will remain in close formation throughout the race, allowing careful use of the streets and intersections when the racers are elsewhere.

As well, a judge's car will trail behind to determine who's fallen far enough back to be out of the race, Johnson said.

The streets most affected lie in a central loop of the route that will be traversed 10 and a quarter times before the racers head east along Weathersfield Way to Plum Grove Road and into Elk Grove.

Where possible, streets and intersections will remain passable until they're needed, and will be reopened when their part of the race is over.

Schaumburg police will have about 80 or 90 personnel along the route, helped out by 100 civilian volunteers, Sgt. John Nebl said.

Elk Grove police, in their third year of monitoring the event, also see Saturday afternoon's race as the major new ground this year.

"It's the road race that's going to be the challenge, because it's so manpower intensive," Elk Grove police Sgt. Jeff Prior said. "Like Schaumburg, we are using resources from different locations in our own town, specifically village employees."

The other challenge Elk Grove officials face is that there will be shorter races on the main course at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. which are hoped and expected to be finished before the road race from Schaumburg crosses into their village.

Prior said the race in previous years has proved manageable and something unlikely to disgruntle many residents.

"There are some people who don't see eye-to-eye with the mayor about this, but generally it's been well received," Prior said.

Elk Grove police will use the highly organized interaction required as a training exercise for the National Incident Management System, which is to be prepared for and used in major emergencies, Prior said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="http://www.tourofelkgrove.com/">Official race site </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>