Allamakee County Emergency Management advises of routes and safety regarding local RAGBRAI traffic July 30
Official route map for RAGBRAI XLIX in Allamakee County ... The map image above shows the official routes (described at left in the image and in the accompanying article as well) for both bicyclists (light blue lines) and support vehicles (yellow lines) as RAGBRAI XLIX will be making its way through Allamakee County during its final day of the event Saturday, July 30. Area residents and others who may be traveling these routes are advised that they may experience some higher traffic congestion along those roadways that Saturday between the official ride times of 6 a.m.-4 p.m., and all are advised to be patient and to travel safely when encountering the RAGBRAI traffic. Submitted image.
by Corey Snitker, Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator
As most residents of Allamakee County know, the Des Moines Register’s 2022 RAGBRAI XLIX bike ride is coming to the county Saturday, July 30. As one can imagine, with some 10,000-plus bike riders coming to the county along with the support vehicles that follow along, there will be some travel and safety impacts on the roads they will be using and within the towns they will be passing through.
Therefore, I wanted to address the routes the bikes and support vehicles will be using while in Allamakee County as they leave West Union to travel to Lansing, including passing through Postville and Waukon.
The official RAGBRAI bike routes in Allamakee County have been established and these are the approved roads the riders are supposed to use while making their way through the area. It should be understood some may decide to use other routes, but these would be the exception and against the guidance provided by Des Moines RAGBRAI®.
The official bike route will be marked and has official ride hours established to help with rider safety and movement. These times are from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 30, though be prepared to see some bikes on the routes earlier or later than this.
The public also needs to know that none of the rural bike routes are closed to traffic. However, within Postville and Lansing there will be streets closed with the biggest impact being in Lansing. But, as the bikes make their way through the county the bike routes will become extremely congested during certain times of the day and the recommendation would be to avoid those roadways, if possible, especially if drivers must follow the direction of the route and find themselves going 10 mph at times behind a collection of bicyclists.
As depicted in the accompanying map to the right in light blue, the ride route enters Allamakee County on Highway 18 into Postville from the east as they come from Gunder in Clayton County. As they exit Postville; they then make their way on Cherry Valley Drive to Forrest Mills Road.
Once on Forest Mills Road, they bike north to State Highway 76 and make their way into Waukon from the south via Rossville Road. From Waukon they will head east on Elon Drive until they come to the Lansing Harpers Road. They will then continue north to Lansing where they will finish the ride.
The support vehicles route from West Union (depicted in yellow on the map at right) will be on Highway 18 to Postville and then Highway 51 to Highway 9 to Waukon. The support vehicles will be routed down the west side of Waukon on 9th Street to Highway 76, traveling north and then taking Iron Mine Drive north of town back to Highway 9 and into Lansing. The official support vehicle route will also be marked.
Additionally, Postville is serving as the meeting town for bikes and vehicles during the last day of the ride. Currently, the vehicles will be parking in the vicinity of the Big Four Fairgrounds on the north side of Postville.
Finally, it is asked that drivers and residents please have patience and understanding as the bikes make their way through the county; this not only helps in keeping the bike riders safe, but everyone safe. Consider this as a chance for Allamakee County to show people from all over the United States - and even from other countries - this area’s beautiful scenery and local hospitality.
