City releases traffic plans for Bristol race

The city of Bristol, Tenn. along with other area agencies has developed the overall race traffic management plan for the spring race, coming up March 19-21 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The plan is designed each year with the safety of citizens and visitors in mind. Special attention is given to all pedestrians in the area of the racetrack and in particular their safety. Officials offer the following words of advice:
Please arrive early to account for any delays in passing through security checkpoints.
Use a clear plastic bag to carry your items into the speedway to speed up the search process and have your cooler ready to be inspected at the gate.
This race weekend is on Daylight Savings Time and between the time change and the earlier start time for the Sprint Cup race there will be less time between sunrise and the start of the race for everyone to arrive and enter the speedway.
The closure of a portion of Interstate 40 in North Carolina will also add to the traffic load in the TriCities along Interstates 26 and 81.

Generally, the overall schedule of events is as follows.

FRIDAY, MAR H 19: FORD FAN FRIDAY and FOOD CITY FAMILY RACE NIGHT. Spectator gates open at 11 a.m., followed by various practice and qualifying sessions. Sprint
Cup qualifying is scheduled for 3:40 p.m. The last practice session is scheduled to end about 5:45 p.m. The second spring on-campus Food City Family Race Night will operate in the Hospitality area from 4 to 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20: NATIONWIDE SERIES SCOTTS TURF BUILDER 300 and SCOTTS EZ SEED SHOWDOWN. Spectator gates open at 9:00 a.m., followed by various practice sessions. Nationwide Series qualifying is scheduled for 9:40 a.m. The Nationwide race is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. The Scotts EZ Seed Showdown is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. It is anticipated that the last race will end by 7 p.m., red flag conditions notwithstanding. Attendance in the past has been in excess of 130,000 people.

SUNDAY, MARCH 21: SPRINT CUP SERIES FOOD CITY 500. Spectator gates open at 9 a.m. The race is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. (this is earlier than in the past several years for
a spring Race Weekend). Typically, this race lasts just under four hours, red flag conditions notwithstanding, so that the race could end by about 4:45 p.m. or so. In the past, this race has sold out (164,000 persons).

Ordinances in Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, prohibit the buying, selling, trading, or exchanges of tickets or other merchandise on public road rights-of-way. People who wish to buy
or sell items must do so on private property after securing a Business License at City Hall or county courthouse. In addition, Bristol Tennessee ordinances prohibit ticket scalping. State law prohibits golf carts or ATVs on public streets or rights-of-way.

PRE-RACE: GETTING THERE
As in previous years, signage will be in place for the six routes leading to the Bristol Motor Speedway from Interstates 81 and 26. The primary routes are as follows:

Fans coming from Knoxville on northbound 1-81 can exit at Tennessee Exit 57A, taking 1-26 east to Tennessee State Route 381 (State of Franklin Road) at Exit 19 in Johnson City, which leads to US lIE and north again to BMS.

Fans coming from the Knoxville area can exit 1-81 at Tennessee Exit 66 (State Route 126) or Exit 69 (State Route 394) and go through Blountville towards BMS. These are the heaviest-traveled routes between Interstate 81 and BMS.

Fans coming south from Roanoke or Wytheville on southbound 1-81 are encouraged to exit at Virginia Exit 17 (Virginia State Route 75) in Abingdon and follow southbound Route 75 into Tennessee, where it changes to Tennessee State Route 44. Route 44 intersects US 421 in Holston Valley; go north on US 421 and tum left on Tennessee Highway 394, which will bring motorists into the Dragway side of BMS. There will be directional signage along this route to guide you to BMS.

Fans corning south from Virginia on southbound 1-81 can also exit at Virginia Exit 3 in Bristol (Interstate 381), which turns into Commonwealth Avenue in Bristol, Virginia, and Volunteer Parkway in Bristol, Tennessee, which leads directly to BMS. Fans may choose to turn left from southbound Volunteer Parkway to Tennessee State Route 358 (Weaver Pike) to reach Tennessee Highway 394 and get to BMS on the Dragway side. All of the traffic signals along Commonwealth Avenue and Volunteer Parkway may be manually coordinated to optimize traffic flow both before and after the race as conditions require.

Fans coming over Sam's Gap on westbound 1-26 from Asheville should exit onto Tennessee State Route 381 (State of Franklin Road) at Exit 19 in Johnson City, which leads to US lIE and thence to BMS.

Please plan how you will exit the racetrack area and select your parking location accordingly. Because of the increased security precautions, vehicles parked in and around the track in noparking
zones will be towed immediately.

BMS will be operating a traffic radio network on the following radio stations:
WJCW-AM 910 (Tri-Cities, TN/VA)
WFHG-AM 980 (Bristol, VA)
WMEV-FM 93.9 (Marion, VA)
WXSM-AM 640 (Tri-Cities, TN/VA)
WNVA-FM 106.3 (Norton, VA)
WMTN-AM 1300 (Morristown, TN)

Fans are encouraged to listen to these stations as they approach BMS to get last minute information on traffic, parking, and other important details that may impact their travel plans.

Motorists that need to go from the Johnson City area north past BMS that are not going to the races are encouraged to use the alternate northbound US lIE route that begins by exiting onto
Highway 394 and leads to Virginia Exit 5 ofI-81. Signage will direct such traffic on how to get around the BMS area.

The median opening intersection of Volunteer Parkway/US lIE and Exide Drive just north of BMS will be closed no earlier than sumise and remain closed the rest of the day on both the
Nationwide and Sprint Cup race days. This means that there will be no left turns or U-turns at this intersection from any direction. Right turns will still be permitted.

Other median openings along Volunteer Parkway and Highway lIE in the vicinity of BMS may also be closed before the race, depending on traffic conditions in that area at that time.

PRE-RACE: ONCE YOU ARE THERE

As in previous years, no parking will be permitted on the shoulders and medians of Volunteer Parkway, Highway lIE, Exide Drive, Highway 394, White Top Road, at electrical substations, or wherever signage so indicates. This is very important to leave these areas clear so pedestrians do not have to walk in the travel lanes at those locations. Some grassy areas are also marked as no-parking zones to allow for helicopter landing sites in case they are needed for medical emergencies. Because of heightened security, vehicles parked in no-parking zones will be towed for the safety of our citizens and visitors. Vehicles parked in these areas will be towed to the impound lot at the Exide Drive fire station northwest of BMS. No camping is permitted on public street rights-of-way.

All persons with handicapped parking license plates or mirror placards will be required to show proof of need in order to utilize the handicapped parking spaces on the BMS campus. People using these permits should display the permit clearly, AND be prepared to show supporting documentation identifying the person to whom the permit is issued, AND must provide a photo ID of the person to whom the permit is issued. If the permitted person is not in the car, Bristol Police plan to prosecute the offender and confiscate the permit. Obviously, the car will not be allowed to park in the Speedway's handicap-accessible lots. Signage in advance of the two campus entrances will direct persons using handicap permits into the checkpoint areas. Bristol Motor Speedway, in partnership with area law enforcement agencies, will be strictly enforcing this State law.

A portion of Sweet Knobs Trail that serves as a "frontage road" of Highway 394 for about two miles east of BMS will be converted into a one-way, one-lane eastbound road flowing towards the Vance Tank Road intersection, starting on the morning of the Nationwide race until after the post-race traffic is over following the Sprint Cup race.

Left turns may not be permitted from northbound Highway lIE to westbound Highway 394 all weekend.

There will be heightened security at BMS, so arrive early to allow time to find a parking space and allow time to pass through the security checkpoints upon entering the stadium. All coolers and backpacks are subject to search. No firearms, even with state permits, will be allowed on BMS property.

POST-RACE: LEAVING BMS
There are eight signed "drain" routes that will carry traffic from the BMS area back to Interstates 26 and 81: (1) south on US lIE to 1-26 and 1-81 to Tennessee 1-81 Exit 57; (2) south on the US lIE "contraflow" lane (available to motorists exiting South Entrance and some westbound White Top Road areas only) towards 1-26 and Tennessee 1-81 Exit 57; (3, 4) west on Tennessee State Route 394 through Blountville to Tennessee 1-81 Exit 66 or Exit 69; (5) north on Bethel Drive from Exide Drive to Carden Hollow Road to Tennessee State Route 126 to US 11W and thence to Tennessee 1-81 Exit 74 (available to motorists exiting certain areas along Exide Drive and Volunteer Parkway only); (6) north on US lIE to 1-381 to Virginia 1-81 Exit 3 in Bristol; (7) east on Tennessee Highway 394 to US 421, turn left onto US 421, following the signs to Virginia 1-81 Exit 5; (8) east on Highway 394 to US 421, turn right onto US 421 to Route 44 and on to Virginia 1-81 Exit 17 in Abingdon. All of these routes are extensively signed with TO 81 signage for guidance. A ninth drain route directs cars only from the Dragway, White Top Road, and Sportsway Drive areas to Johnson City via US 19E through the Chinquapin area and Elizabethton. Particular points of interest for post-race flows are as follows:

Traffic exiting the BMS grounds from the South Entrance can tum left towards Johnson City (Routes 1 and 2 above) or right towards Virginia (Route 6 above). However, these exiting vehicles, as well as those vehicles on Volunteer Parkway and Highway lIE from Sperry View Drive to White Top Road, will be stopped completely for up to one hour immediately after the race (pedestrian hold period) to allow pedestrians to leave BMS safely.

One lane of traffic may be permitted to exit BMS from the North Entrance and tum right along northbound Highway lIE to Virginia Exit 3. These motorists are also subject to the Highway lIE pedestrian hold period immediately following the race.

Post-race traffic entering Highway 394 from Sportsway Drive and Copperhead Entrance will be subject to a full hold period up to one hour after the race for pedestrian safety. Traffic on Highway 394 will be stopped to allow pedestrians to cross. Some satellite parking/camping fields exiting onto Sweet Knobs Trail may also be held to allow pedestrians to leave the area safely. Traffic entering highway 394 from the Dragway Entrance will also be subject to the Highway 394 pedestrian hold period. White Top Road motorists entering Highway 394 will not be subject to the hold period unless they go past the Dragway or Copperhead Entrances.

To accommodate the Highway 394 post-race hold period, westbound Highway 394 traffic approaching from Weaver Pike may be stopped at the Vance Tank Road end of Sweet Knobs Trail and will not proceed westward until the Highway 394 hold period is over. Through motorists that would ordinarily use this roadway are advised to use alternate routes during this period.

Please note that all of the median openings along Volunteer Parkway and US lIE from the Bristol Tennessee Essential Services facility two miles north of BMS to near Egypt Road about three miles south of BMS will be closed with chains after the race for the operation of the southbound Highway lIE contraflow. Motorists needing to U-turn along US lIE or Volunteer Parkway will have to go beyond those points to tum around. Driving though the median is both unlawful and extremely dangerous, as unexpected head-on traffic in the same lane may be encountered.

Traffic exiting from the Dragway Entrance (Thunder Valley Drive) onto Highway 394 will be required to tum left towards US 421 and on to Virginia Exits 5 or 17 or the Chinquapin Route to Elizabethton and Johnson City.

Motorists exiting the BMS grounds via Copperhead Road will be required to take eastbound Sweet Knobs Trail parallel to Highway 394 to a point two miles east of BMS, where they will enter Highway 394 and go on to Virginia Exits 5 or 17 as listed above.

Traffic exiting from the All-American Campground must tum onto eastbound White Top Road to Highway 394, where they will tum left towards US 421, Interstate 81, and the Chinquapin route to Johnson City.

Traffic exiting from the Red Barn, White Oak, Gentry, or Tri-City Transport lots onto White Top Road can go east to Highway 394 or west to Highway lIE after the race. For those White Top Road motorists going to US lIE, they are encouraged to go left (south) on Highway lIE utilizing the contraflow lane. These motorists will have no access to Highway 394; they must continue on to Johnson City and thence to Interstates 26 and 81. These motorists may also be able to go north on Highway lIE, but will encounter delays as they go past the South and North Entrances.

Traffic exiting from parking areas south of Highway 394 and east of Highway lIE must tum right onto eastbound Highway 394 and on to Virginia Exits 5 or 17. Cars exiting from this area can use the Chinquapin Route to Elizabethton and Johnson City.

Traffic parked in fields on the southbound side of Volunteer Parkway north of Exide Drive, or in the Earhart fields between Highway lIE and Bethel Drive, is encouraged to leave the area via westbound Exide Drive. Exide Drive from Highway 11E to Edison Circle (eastern intersection) at the Exide Battery Plant will operate as a one-way westbound roadway only during and after the race.

There will be no access to Volunteer Parkway or Highway 11E from Exide Drive, Bethel Drive, or Carden Hollow Road during this time. Such motorists can proceed to northbound Bethel Drive to Carden Hollow Road and thence to Tennessee Exit 74, or to Highway 394 and on to Tennessee Exits 66 or 69 as listed above. Traffic parked in fields along Exide Drive west of Bethel
Drive can leave the area by going west on Exide Drive to Highway 394 and on to Tennessee Exits 66 and 69.

The southbound Highway lIE off-ramp to Highway 394 will be closed after the race. This is to alleviate congestion at the bottom of the ramp on Highway 394. Motorists going south on Highway lIE can reach Interstate 81 via State of Franklin Road and Interstate 26 via Route 1 described above.

The flow of motorists going west on Highway 394 will utilize the center two-way leftturn lane as a post-race westbound-only lane from Highway lIE to Blountville. This flow will be split at its intersection with Franklin Drive in Blountville. Motorists in the far left lane will tum left onto westbound Franklin Drive to Highway 126, which will take them to Interstate 81 at Exit 66. The rest of the motorists will continue on straight to Interstate 81 at Exit 69. Both the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Tennessee Department of Transportation will be working in the interstate area to encourage vehicle movements.

If there is a crash on northbound Interstate 81 north ofExit 5, post-race traffic may not be able to get on to northbound Interstate 81 at Exit 5 in Bristol, Virginia. As a contingency plan, if a traffic problem develops, such traffic may be directed to continue north on Lee Highway to Virginia Exits 7 or 10 and enter the Interstate at that point. Traffic entering southbound Interstate 81 will be able to enter at Exit 5.

Motorists going to the Linden Drive and Exit 7 areas of Bristol, Virginia, after the race, are encouraged to leave Interstate 81 at Exit 5 and proceed north on Lee Highway (US 11/19) to the Exit 7 area. If those motorists are on Highway 394, the easiest route is to go east on Highway 394 to Highway 421, turn left, and follow the signs to Interstate 81; there will be additional signage on this route to direct motorists to the Linden Drive area.

City releases traffic plans for Bristol race

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