,— Daily Freeman-Journal file photo by Anne Blankenship Thousands of RAGBRAI participants walk their bicycles through downtown Webster City on July 21, 2015 after waking up in Fort Dodge that morning. Fort Dodge was an overnight stop and Webster City was one of the pass-through towns on the weeklong bicycle ride. Along the way, the cyclists also stopped in Williams. That scene may be repeated this summer as the route announced over the weekend will pass right through Webster City again. The ride was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers are hoping the ride to take place July 25-31, 2021. The route includes LeMars, Sac City, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Waterloo, Anamosa, Dewitt and Clinton.

Webster City motorists may have to alter their normal driving patterns July 27 when RAGBRAI riders pass through the community.

This year, the riders will stay overnight in Fort Dodge July 26 before heading out the next morning for Iowa Falls. Webster City is one of the communities the bicyclists will ride through on the way to their next overnight destination.

The route through Webster City will bring riders into town via James Street to Grove Street and then to Second Street, due to the street construction. City officials sent local residents a letter in utility statements this month which outlined street closures.

Closing on July 26 beginning at 6 p.m. will be Des Moines Street from Second Street to the north alley, and Des Moines Street south of Second Street to First Street. Parking spaces along Second Street from Des Moines to Willson Avenue will be unavailable Monday night as vendors begin to set up, and no parking will be allowed on the north or south sides of Second Street from Willson to Superior Street.

Officials said the bicycle traffic will make certain areas of the community congested on July 27. The majority of the riders are expected to ride through Webster City between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The following intersections will be closed between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. on July 27:

∫ James and Grove

∫ Clark and Grove

∫ 3rd and Grove

∫ 3rd Street Alley and Grove

∫ 2nd and Prospect

∫ 1st and Des Moines

∫ 2nd Street Alley North and Des Moines Street

∫ 2nd Street Alley South and Des Moines Street

∫ 1st and Willson Avenue

∫ 2nd Street Alley South and Willson Avenue

∫ 2nd Street Alley North and Seneca Street

∫ 2nd and Union

∫ White Fox and 3rd Street

∫ 2nd and Park Avenue

∫ 2nd and Alley between Oak and Maple

∫ 2nd and Maple

∫ 2nds and High

This marks the third time in the past 10 years that RAGBRAI has visited Webster City. In 2012, the community hosted the riders for an overnight stay. In 2015, the city was a pass-through town.