HHH to affect gates, roadways during cycling event

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Another summer in North Texas means scorching hot temperatures, dry conditions and thousands of cycling enthusiasts flocking to the area for the annual Hotter’N Hell Hundred, the largest single-day cycling event in the country.

Four of the event’s routes will take cyclists pedaling through Sheppard AFB for one of the more visually appealing experiences along the course, which also means road closures and changes for motorists trying to get around the base.

The Main Gate will close at 7 a.m. on Aug. 25, 2018, and all inbound and outbound traffic will use the Hospital Gate. The Missile Road gate will open at 7:15 a.m. for cycling traffic only. 

All traffic needing to cross through the cycling route will do so on Ninth Avenue at Avenue G. Barriers and road guards will be placed along the route the help motorists navigate the base.

Sheppard personnel should not park in two parking lots that could impede cycling traffic including the lot between Bldgs. 1020 and 1040 and the Pitsenbarger Fitness Center parking lot.

Operations will return to normal at about 4 p.m. when all riders have exited the base. The Hospital Gate will close and the Main Gate will become the entry and exit location for Sheppard.

Cyclists participating in the ride will enter the base on Missile Road and will continue to a location just east of Bldg. 1025. Riders will turn right and head across the ground instructional training ramp and through Air Power Alley, a spot where a few different types of aircraft and Airmen will be stationed to greet riders who stop along the route.

Riders will then turn left onto Ninth Avenue and then right onto Avenue H, where the Sheppard AFB Rest Stop will be at the Pitsenbarger Fitness Center. The route continues onto Fifth Avenue and then left onto Avenue G, where hundreds of Airmen in training will cheer on cyclists as they pass through Airman’s Alley in front of the 82nd Training Wing headquarters building. Cyclists will continue along Avenue G, turn right onto First Avenue and then exit through the Main Gate.

The cycling route will be closed to vehicle traffic the entirety of the Hotter'N Hell event.