BOLTON’S Ironman road closures have been revealed with just over a week to go until hundreds of competitors descend on the town.

The borough is gearing up for a gruelling weekend of sport with the world’s largest Ironkids race on Saturday, July 19 and the Ironman UK triathlon on Sunday, July 20.

To make sure both events run safely a number of road closures will be in place in the town centre and around the borough.

Ironkids is a run only event organised with Bolton Council. It starts at 8am in Victoria Square and children aged three to 14 will run various distances.

Some of the roads closed include Le Mans Crescent, from 8pm on July 18 to 8am on July 21, and Knowsley Street, Howell Croft North and part of Deansgate from 6am to 1pm on July 19.

The Ironman UK triathlon on July 20 will see roads closed in the west of Bolton and in the town centre. Ironman involves a 2.4-mile swim in Pennington Flash; a 112-mile cycle ride through Rivington and Chorley finishing with a marathon to Bolton town centre.

Some roads in Westhoughton will be closed from 6am to 9am to allow cyclists to pass through safely, including Platt Lane from North Road to Park Road.

Chorley New Road will be closed all day for the marathon, from the A58 junction at Beaumont Road to the junction with St George’s Road and Chorley Old Road.

Marshals will be present to allow access for emergency services, residents, and businesses.

Shoppers are advised that Middlebrook Retail Park is open as usual.

Passengers who usually get on or off these buses on Chorley New Road, can catch a replacement shuttle bus service between 11am and 11.30pm. Information will be displayed at the bus stops.

The shuttle bus will drop passengers off at specified stops on either side of the road so passengers can connect with their usual bus service.

Managing director of Ironman UK, Kevin Stewart, said: “We have worked with the authorities to minimise the impact of the event on local residents and their continued support of Ironman UK is appreciated.

“The leaflets distributed by Royal Mail and advanced signage on affected roads will help guide residents to plan their day ahead of the weekend.

“In recent years the event has drawn more and more spectators to support and we hope to see another record crowd turning out for the largest ever Ironman UK.”

Cabinet member for culture, Cllr John Byrne, added: “We want to make sure both of these events are once again a success for the town and the road restrictions are essential to facilitate both events safely.

“We work closely with Ironman UK and other partners in an effort to minimise disruption.

“This is the sixth Bolton Ironman and the third Ironkids that we’re hosting and as we’ve seen both of these events bring thousands of people into Bolton and vast economic benefit to the town.”

For more information contact Ironman UK on 01865 596266.

Ironman road closures

HORWICH & RIVINGTON: 6.00am until 4.30pm 
Closures will be in place on Chorley New Road and the Bolton Rd (A673).
HORWICH 9.30am until 5.30pm closed Southbound 
A Southbound road closure is in place between these times.
ADLINGTON & ANDERTON: 6.30am until 4.30pm 
Travel is possible through Adlington as normal along the A6 Westhoughton Rd northbound and southbound. However delays may be experienced at these times. BELMONT VILLAGE: 6.30am until 2.00pm 
The northbound A675 will be closed at Belmont.
ABBEY VILLAGE: 7.30am until 2.00pm 
The northbound A675 is closed from Belmont.
WHEELTON: 7.00am until 2.00pm 
Full closures will be in place on Dark Lane and Copthurst Lane.
BRINDLE: 7.00am until 2.30pm 
Full closures will be in place on Copthurst Lane, Birchin Lane, Denham Lane, Water St and Sandy Lane through to Whittle Le Woods. Sandy Lane will be closed westbound only from Water St to the A6 Preston Rd.
CHORLEY NEW ROAD – BETWEEN A58 & CHORLEY OLD ROAD 10.30am until Midnight 
A road closure will be in place for the run course circuit.
CHORLEY OLD ROAD No Restriction 
A58 BEAUMONT RD THROUGH MOSS BANK WAY No Restriction
TOWN CENTRE 9.00am until Midnight 
Knowsley St, Bark St, Chorley St, Deansgate, Victoria Square, Howell Croft South, Howell Croft North, Le Mans Cresecent, Ashburner St, Coronation St are all closed on 20 July for Ironman UK between 9am and Midnight.
HORWICH 6.00am until 9.30am closed
A road closure will be in place for the bike race as it heads out to Anderton via Horwich from Regent Road. Closures will be in place on Chorley New Road and the Bolton Rd (A673).
HORWICH 9.30am until 5.30pm closed Southbound
A Southbound road closure is in place between these times.
MIDDLEBROOK RETAIL PARK No Restriction 
BURNDEN WAY - PARTIAL ACCESS 06:30am until 5:30pm
No vehicle access permitted beyond the Police Station.
ASPINALL WAY CLOSED 06:30am until 5:30pm
No vehicle access permitted along Aspinall Way between Burnden Way and Napier Drive/Aspinall Close.
MANSELL WAY - OPEN ( VIA DE HAVILLAND WAY) 06:30am to 5.30pm
NAPIER DRIVE & ASPINALL CLOSE – CLOSED 10:00am until 5:30pm
No vehicle access permitted along Napier Drive between Aspinall Way and Chorley New Road.
THE LINKWAY – PARTIALLY CLOSED BETWEEN BURNDEN WAY AND THE ENTRANCE TO THE OVERFLOW CAR PARK 06:30am until 5:30pm
The Linkway will remain open throughout the race accessible only from Mansell Way.
DE HAVILLAND WAY/A6027 ACCESS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS SUBJECT TO DIVERSION ROUTES 06:30am until 5:30pm
Temporary traffic management in place giving access to and from Mansell Way to Tesco and Middlebrook Retail Park.
WHITTLE LE WOODS: 7am until 3pm 
New for 2014 the bike route will use a longer stretch of the A6 Preston Rd from Sandy Lane down to Dawson Lane. The A6 Preston Rd on this stretch will be closed southbound.
Dawson lane & RUNSHAW LANE: 7am until 3pm