ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County commissioners are weighing what happens next after the first-ever IRONMAN Jacksonville triathlon caused major traffic delays in parts of Ponte Vedra and Nocatee over the weekend.
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County leaders discussed the event Tuesday, acknowledging frustration over road closures, safety concerns and the economic impact on local businesses. They said they will take part in an after-action review with Jacksonville officials to discuss possible changes before the race returns.
“We are going to add an agenda item…to have a brief discussion about the Ironman triathlon this week,” Commission Chair Clay Murphy said at the meeting.
Commissioner Krista Joseph said she received notice about road closures only the day before the race and was concerned by the decision to keep some streets open to both motorists and cyclists.
“It was too late to do anything about it,” she said.
Zach Stinson, an athlete, was hit by a truck at the corner of Bobcat Lane and Crosswater Parkway just before the 50-mile mark of the course.
Joseph also said many businesses suffered losses during the event, singling out Fresh Market as among those hit hardest.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said deputies worked with Jacksonville officers throughout the race to manage traffic and protect both drivers and cyclists.
Not all commissioners want the event to leave the county. Commissioner Christian Whitehurst said he supports keeping the triathlon in Northeast Florida while urging organizers to apply lessons learned.
“I’d love to have it come through District 1,” he said.
County leaders said the after-action review with Jacksonville officials will examine traffic planning, public notice and safety measures to try to avoid similar problems in future races.
Mayor Donna Deegan said there will be meetings to make tweaks to the next IRONMAN event to address the issues.