Southern Wisconsin Times

The City of Janesville is excited to partner with the Janesville Velo Club again as it hosts Town Square Gran Prix presented by Blain’s Farm & Fleet in downtown Janesville. Kicking off the 14th Annual Tour of America’s Dairyland Bike Race, this free, family-friendly event will take place on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in award-winning downtown Janesville.

Spectators will experience live race audio from the Start-Finish line throughout the” racecourse. Downtown restaurants and pubs will be ready to satisfy attendees’ hunger and thirst with plenty of food and drink specials highlighting our community’s local flavor. In addition to the race, there will be entertainment, family-friendly activities, kids’ activities, DJ, live music, food trucks at the Town Square, and other events throughout downtown.

For information about the race and event details, visit http://www.janesvilletownsquaregranprix.com. 

Several downtown streets will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the event. Roads will be closed from 5 a.m. on Thursday, June 15 to 1 a.m. on Friday June 16. All sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians to access local businesses and the downtown area. There will be designated crosswalks for pedestrians to access the businesses and destinations that are located on the inside of the bike route. The streets that will be closed for the event include the following:

East-West Streets:

• Milwaukee Street (North Academy Street to North Main Street)
• Dodge Street (North Academy St to the Rock River)
• Court Street (South High Street to South Main Street)

North-South Streets:

• High Street (West Court Street to West Wall Street)
• Jackson Street (McKinley Street to West Wall Street)
• Franklin Street (East Court Street to West Wall Street)
• River Street (East Court Street to W Wall Street)
• South Water Street (East Court Street to East Milwaukee Street)

A detailed map of the racecourse on the City's website includes the street closure areas, pedestrian crosswalk locations, etc.

The City will post detours for Milwaukee Street, Court Street, and Jackson Street. Drivers are encouraged to follow the posted detours or seek alternate routes to avoid congestion within the downtown area.

The Janesville Police Department also wishes to remind residents and visitors that there will be no parking on the course itself on race day. Residents and businesses must have their vehicles moved by the end of the business day on Wednesday, June 14. There will be no parking signs posted around 5:00 p.m. that evening. 

For more information about road closures, email Operations Superintendent Ethan Lee at leee@ci.janesville.wi.us or call (608) 755-3102.

JTS Routes Affected by Town Square Gran Prix 

Milton Ave., W. Court St., Milwaukee St., BJE County Loop, and Nightside Milton Ave. routes will use the following detour during the road closures:

• Outbound: west on McKinley Street, north on Academy Street, east on Centerway
  • Milton Ave. and Nightside Milton Ave. routes resume the regular route at Centerway and Milton Avenue
  • W. Court St. route resumes the regular route at Centerway and Franklin Street
  • BJE County Loop route resumes the regular route at Centerway and Parker Drive
  • Milwaukee St. route will resume the regular route at Milwaukee Street and Ringold Street

Each route will use the same detour in reverse order for the inbound portion of the trips. 

This special event will close bus stops between Centerway and the Transfer Center; all stops on Main Street; and all stops on Court Street west of Garfield Avenue. Temporary bus stops will be available at Centerway and Main Street for riders wishing to board or exit along the Milton Ave., Nightside Milton Ave., and Milwaukee St. routes. 

Riders wishing to board or exit at the Garden Court Apartments may use the intersection of Centerway and Main Street. Riders wishing to board or exit at the Rock County Courthouse may ride to the Transfer Center and inform the driver. Arrangements will then be made to get the rider close to this destination.

Wright Rd. and Nightside East will use the following detour:

• Outbound: south on River Street, east on Racine Street
• Both routes will resume the regular route at Racine Street and Main Street

Each route will use the same detour in reverse order on the inbound portion of the trips. This special event will close downtown bus stops on Court Street and Main Street (north of Racine Street).

There will be no service to Hedberg Public Library on June 15; riders wishing to visit the library may walk to the intersection of Main and Racine Streets. Individuals wanting to travel to destinations along the Wright Rd. route may board at the southwest corner of Main Street and Racine Street at :15 or :45 after the hour. Individuals wishing to travel to the Transfer Center may be picked up at the northeast corner of Main Street and Racine Street at :05 or :35 after the hour.

Nightside West will use the following detour:

• Inbound: the route will follow the regular route until Jackson Street and Centerway; west on Centerway, south on Academy Street, east on McKinley Street.

This special event will close all bus stops on Main Street and Milwaukee Street in downtown Janesville. 

JTS thanks its customers for their flexibility during this special event.

For questions, contact JTS at (608) 755-3150. 

Original source can be found here.