​Several streets around the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics will see heavy traffic Saturday morning as thousands of RAGBRAI riders pass by, and drivers are advised to consider alternate routes to the facilities.

Melrose Avenue, Hawkins Drive, Elliott Drive, and Newton Road will all be affected, as they are on the route that riders will take on their way to Davenport. Although these roads will remain open to vehicles, traffic will be heavy and drivers are advised to find other routes until bicycle traffic thins in the afternoon.

This map shows the RAGBRAI route and the streets that will be affected.

UI Hospitals and Clinics patients, visitors, and employees are advised to use parking ramp 3 during this period and cross the skywalk to the main building, which will take them over the riders below. The easiest access to ramp 3 is to take US Highway 6 to Hawkins Drive to the Lot 43 North Drive, which is the intersection across the Dental Building parking lot at Duane Banks Field.

Ramp 1 and the Newton Road Ramp will be open, but accessing them will be difficult due to bicycle traffic.

Access to the hospital’s emergency room entrance via Grand Avenue will not be affected.

Officers from the University of Iowa, University Heights, Iowa City, and Coralville will be patrolling these areas. They will direct drivers who have questions.

UIHC’s Iowa River Landing facility will also be affected Friday evening and Saturday morning, as the neighborhood will be the central gathering place for riders following Friday’s portion of the ride. The IRL facility will remain open during this period and traffic control officers will be available to direct patients to the appropriate parking areas. Patients should bring their appointment letters with them to help the officers.