OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Athletes from all over the world will descend on Old Orchard Beach on Sunday once again for the annual IRONMAN 70.3 Maine triathlon. Race officials are busy preparing for the big event, and the town has listed traffic impacts, road closures and parking lot closures for the upcoming days.

The town’s Veterans Memorial Parking lot and tennis courts on First Street are currently closed through Sunday. The town parking lot on Milliken Street will be partly open on Thursday and Friday, with 50 spaces available only for cars with Old Orchard Beach issued parking permits. The municipal lot on Milliken Street will be closed on Saturday and Sunday.

First Street will be closed from Staples Street to Heath Street from Friday to Sunday.

The race starts with a 1.2 mile swim in the Atlantic Ocean near The Pier in Old Orchard Beach, followed by a 56-mile bicycle ride that loops through Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Scarborough, Hollis, Waterboro and Buxton; followed by a 13.1 mile run through Old Orchard Beach and the Eastern Trail.

Motorists are advised to try to avoid the area of East Grand Avenue and Walnut Street from 6:15 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Sunday due to congested roadways in this area near where the swim portion of the race is held.

Motorists are advised to avoid the Old Orchard and Milliken street areas from 6:45 a.m. to 3 p.m on Sunday during the bicycle and running part of the race.

In Saco, police will be directing traffic at several intersections in the city from 6 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

Areas in Saco which are expected to have delays include the intersection of Louden and Buxton roads, New County and Louden roads, Jenkins and Buxton roads and Flag Pond and Jenkins roads.

The 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Maine will offer 40 qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupō, New Zealand.

The IRONMAN triathlon will proceed with the support of hundreds of volunteers, with donations being made to local non-profit organizations in exchange for the work.

Volunteers are still needed Friday through Sunday for a number of positions including checking in athletes, food preparation, bike course pointers and cross walk security. For more information on volunteering, go to https://ironman.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=34584.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.