Drivers will encounter a few road closures when the Tour of Missouri comes to town Saturday.

St. Joseph Streets Superintendant Gary Leftin said the city will work with the Missouri State Highway Patrol to ensure roads are closed for as short a time as possible.

When riders reach Savannah at about 5 p.m., the patrol will call the city, which will close all roads along the race course from the city limits to 22nd Street near Corby Pond. When the race closes to within 10 miles of the city, workers will close the rest of the course, from 22nd Street to the finish line on Francis Street near Civic Center Park.

With the exception of streets near the finish, most roads will reopen as soon as the riders go through.

“Hopefully it will only be a half hour or so,” Mr. Leftin said.

St. Joseph residents will experience a few Downtown road closures before the race. Francis Street was closed between 10th and 12th streets on Thursday night. The city will close additional roads around the park tonight for what Mr. Leftin calls “the Trails West! closure,” giving crowds plenty of room to enjoy pre-race festivities.

The city will allow race volunteers to drive through barricades to reach their designated parking area.

Though the race course covers parts of St. Joseph Avenue and Northwest Parkway, the road closures will not affect the Krug Park Fishing Derby, which will be held before riders reach St. Joseph.

Clinton Thomas can be reached

at clintonthomas@npgco.com.

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Roads closed around the region

The Missouri Department of Transportation will implement rolling road closures across Northwest Missouri. All times are subject to change, based on weather and race conditions:

Missouri Highway 6 from Chillicothe to State Route V: Closed 12:45-2:15 p.m.

Highway 6 from Route V to Route DD: Closed 1:45-2:40 p.m.

Highway 6 from Route DD to Route Z/U.S. Highway 69: Closed 2-3:15 p.m.

Route Z/Highway 69 to Missouri Highway 48: Closed 2:15-4:15 p.m.

Route Z/Highway 69/Highway 48 to Route D/E: Closed 2:45-5:15 p.m.

Route D/E to Route T/K: Closed 3:30-5:45 p.m.

Route T/K to St. Joseph city limit: Closed 4:15-6 p.m.

Source: Missouri Department of Transportation