Runners started and completed the route at last year's Texas Ironman triathlon in The Woodlands.[/caption]

The 112-mile bike route proposed for the May 14 Ironman triathlon in The Woodlands is being revised and may take participants through portions of Harris County in Spring. The original route would have led cyclists through four major construction zones, including an area at FM 1488 and Hwy. 149 with concrete barriers narrowing the road to two lanes, Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal said.

“The route they proposed would have been a real issue for cyclists,” Doyal said.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley said when he saw the projected route for the ride it could not be approved, as it would tie up every major intersection in the precinct.

“It was going to go right through our major road construction,” Riley said. “It’s too dangerous.”

Planners turned to Harris County to examine possible routes on that county’s roads.

Proposed routes that are being considered would tie up intersections with closures and necessitate law enforcement at those intersections, said Mark Seegers Harris County Pct. 4 communications director.

“Their request is embedded in our traffic department,” Seegers said. “It’s a last-minute, complicated request, [but] they’re doing the best they can. [Harris County Precinct 4] commissioner [Jack Cagle] supports and wants to help.”

Seegers said complications regarding rerouting the triathlon route through the area include the need to close intersections and post police at those locations.

One proposed alternative was to have bicyclists ride on a portion of the Grand Parkway. However, that route was not approved by the Texas Department of Transportation.

John Powers, assistant general manager for community services in The Woodlands Township, said Ironman representatives are working with Harris County to create a route that is south and west of The Woodlands, avoiding the Grand Parkway.

“I really would like for us to work on [using the Grand Parkway] for next year,” Doyal said. “It we put them on the inside lane of the Grand Parkway you could ride for miles with no intersections early on a Saturday morning.”

According to Powers, Ironman representatives were aiming to have a route submitted for review by April 8. More details for the bike route will be available at www.ironman.com as it is finalized.