5,000 Triathletes in Downtown St. Pete This Weekend

ST. PETERSBURG - More than 5,000 amateur and professional athletes run, swim and bike through downtown St. Petersburg this weekend during the 2011 St. Anthony's Meek & Mighty Triathlon on Saturday, April 30, and the St. Anthony's Triathlon on Sunday, May 1.  

Triathletes and the public alike are invited to drop by the free St. Anthony's Triathlon Sports and Fitness Expo that begins Friday in North Straub Park. See the latest in apparel, equipment and nutrition from vendors from across the U.S. and take home fitness and exercise tips. The expo runs from noon to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

There will be several road closings for the event, including:

• Bayshore Drive
• North Shore Drive
• Fifth Ave. N.E.

 Traffic at Fourth Street South and Dr. MLK Street South will be monitored by police and motorists should expect delays.

On Sunday, May 1, road closings  and/or delays will occur from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. on:

• Coffee Pot Blvd.
• North Shore Drive N.E. from 22nd Ave. N to Fifth Ave. N
• Bayshore Drive from Seventh Ave. N.E. to Fifth Ave. S.
• First Ave. S. from 28th Street N. to First Street S.
• First Street S. from First Ave. S. to Sixth Ave. S.
• Fifth Ave. S. from First Street  to Fourth Street
• Fourth Street from Fifth Ave. S. to 18th Ave. S. and then from 22nd Ave. S. to Pinellas Point Drive
• Martin Luther King Street (9th Street) from Pinellas Point Drive to 18th Ave. S. Roads surrounding Lake Maggiore including Country Club Way, Columbus Way S., and Fairway Ave. S. will experience traffic delays or re-routing.

Snell Island residents and visitors should make note of delays and detours on Snell Island Blvd. and Brightwaters Blvd. and plan their travel routes accordingly. Race course maps, along with a schedule of other triathlon-related events, are available at www.satriathlon.com.