Conversations on a significant road closure for the upcoming Unbound Gravel series of races are expected to continue over the next few weeks following the Lyon County Commission’s weekly action meeting Thursday.
During that time, Unbound Gravel Race Director Ben Sachs delivered a presentation detailing the event’s schedule, proposed routes and a closure of Burlingame Road from Roads 190 to 180 throughout the event. This is a significant request and a change to previous years according to Sachs all to increase safety for Unbound participants.
According to Sachs, Lifetime has hired Roadsafe, a traffic control agency to handle the closure and other traffic-related matters for the event. During Thursday’s conversations, Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch stated his belief that closing the lane and using signage to direct traffic could lead to a “false sense of safety.”
He pointed to ongoing road closures in Emporia as a prime example of how signage alone is not a strong enough deterrent to prevent accidents.
Commissioners took no action on the matter, to allow more time for conversations between local law enforcement, safety personnel and Lifetime leadership in the coming weeks. While no concrete plan is in place, all parties are leaning towards a one-lane closure with traffic lights and a pilot car to help direct motorists on top of signage alerting drivers to the presence of cyclists in the area.
Following Thursday’s conversations, Sachs stated he believes the new ideas would be far safer and the right choice to help organizers put on the best event possible adding organizers are looking to elevate everything from the competition to the production quality this year.
Sachs anticipates bringing the plan back before commissioners within two weeks, however, an exact date for when commissioners will give further consideration to the event has yet to be determined.
In other business Thursday, county commissioners approved a resolution to install a stop sign on Road F at Road 190. The Lyon County Commission will reconvene for their weekly action meeting next Thursday at 9 am inside of the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
