County preps for Tour of California visit

The Tour of California -- California's version of the Tour de France bicycle race scheduled for next month -- will pass through the rural area of south Kings County, according to county officials.

On Tuesday, the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to approve a permit to allow a "moving road closure" for the cycling race that is set to take place Feb. 14-22.

The 2009 Tour of California will cover more than 850 miles of California roadways, featuring some 128 cyclists including seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, according to officials. A caravan of athletes and support vehicles, escorted by the California Highway Patrol, is expected to pass through the county on Feb. 19.

The road closure will start at a point entering Kings County on Kansas Avenue at the Kings-Tulare county line and will move to a point exiting Kings County on 25th Avenue at the Kings-Kern county line. The closure spans about 50 miles.

According to the county, the race will travel through the county on Kansas Avenue at the county line and travel west on Kansas to 10 1/2 Avenue, then south on 10 1/2 to Utica Avenue, then west on Utica to 25th Avenue, then south on 25th Avenue to the Kings-Kern county line.

In other business, supervisors will consider making appointments to the Commission on Aging as well as the Agricultural Advisory Committee.

The Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Board Chambers, 1400 Lacey Blvd., Hanford.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Jan. 12, 2009)