With the Momentum 947 Cycle Challenge just weeks away, the organising committee is urging all road users to familiarise themselves with closures on the day.

The Momentum 947 Cycle Challenge will take place on Sunday, 15 November at Century Property’s Riversands Commercial Park which is just off the R511 in Fourways.

As a necessary precaution to keep all the cyclists safe, certain roads will be closed on the day by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, Johannesburg Roads Agency and the City Of Joburg.

The route, which starts and ends at Riversands Commercial Park meanders through the streets of Johannesburg from Mnandi Road around the city, bringing cyclists home via Cedar Road, through Steyn City Boulevard and back up to the finish, along Riversands Boulevard.

To ensure the smooth travel of motorists, a number of roads will be closed at specific times when alternative routes should be used (see table).

Some of the major arteries that will be affected include:

• Riversands Boulevard, which will be closed throughout the day;
• the M1 South (4.30 am to 2pm);
• Joe Slovo Road (5.30am to 2pm);
• the M2 East (4.30am to 2pm);
• Jan Smuts Avenue (6.10am to 3pm);
• Witkoppen Road (6.40am to 3.40pm);
• Malibongwe Drive (6.40am to 4.10pm);
• R114 (7am to 4.25pm);
• Cedar Road (7am to 4.40pm);
• Erling Road (4.30am to 5pm).

For those attending the event, free parking will be made available onsite and GPS coordinates can be found on the 947 App. Traffic officials and marshals will also be on hand to help traffic move in a swift manner.

Visit www.cyclechallenge.co.za for all road closures, as well as a detailed route map, and an interactive map to help to find alternative routes.

Residents that will be affected by the temporary road closures are urged to familiarise themselves and take note of the times.

We are always acutely aware of the impact that the race has on our residents and strive to do everything possible to minimise the impact on those who need to move around on Cycle Challenge Sunday,” said Ravi Naidoo, 947 station manager.

Joburgers are encouraged to come out and support the cyclists and soak up the atmosphere of this world class event. The Momentum 947 Cycle Challenge together with Cycling South Africa has been granted UCI 1.1 status for the women’s race, so this means that this year there will be some top international women cyclists out on the streets, promising some great competition among the leaders.