WATCH: Area Roads to Close for 9/11 CT United Tribute Ride 2016

NEWTOWN, CT — On Sunday September 11, 2016 the CT United Ride will roll through 11 area towns to pay tribute to the victims and first responders of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on 15th anniversary of 9/11.

The CT United Ride was created by Fred Garrity Jr. in 2001 as a fundraiser and tribute to 9/11 first responders. It has grown from 500 riders to close to 4,000 over the years and is now Connecticut’s largest annual 9/11 tribute and largest ride in New England. An estimated 10,000 spectators come out annually to watch the event.

The 60-mile motorcade starts in Norwalk at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 and goes through Westport, Wilton, Georgetown, Redding, Bethel, Newtown, Monroe, Trumbull, and Fairfield, ending at Seaside Park in Bridgeport.

The route includes up to 100 police escorts. Along the route the motorcade rides under huge flags, hung from ladder trucks by local firefighters. In Bethel, their flag has special significance as it honors Chris Blackwell of New Fairfield who died in the attacks. Blackwell was a paramedic in Bethel, a volunteer firefighter in New Fairfield and worked for the New York Fire Department, Rescue Company Number 3, of the Bronx.

Motorcyclists drive through traffic lights and do not stop at stop signs so local police are asking drivers to take alternate routes to avoid delays as intersections. The intersections could be blocked off for 20-30 minutes at a time.

The event begins in Norwalk, CT at Exit 17 off I-95 at Norden Park at 11:30 a.m. The motorcade is expected to enter the Town of Wilton at approximately 11:45 a.m. It is anticipated that the motorcade will last for approximately 45 minutes, leaving the Town of Wilton at approximately 12:30 p.m During this time access to sections of Route 33 (Westport Road) and Route 7 (Danbury Road)
will be restricted.

Adjacent streets on the east side of Route 7, north of the Route 7 and Westport Road intersection, will not be able to enter Route 7. In addition, adjacent streets on the west side of Route 7 will be restricted to entering Route 7 in a southbound direction only.

Riders will drive down Route 58 in Bethel at about 12 p.m. Bethel police will block off roads at Routes 58 and 302, and also at Wolfpits and Taylor Road. The intersections will be blocked off from 12 p.m. for about 30-45 minutes.

The parade route is as follows:

• 11:30 a.m.: Motorcade from Norden Park to Rte 136
• to Rte 33 through Westport
• to Wilton Rte 7 (approx. 11:45 a.m.)
• to Rte 107 Georgetown
• to Rte 58N Redding
• to Rte 302 Bethel (approx. 12 p.m.)
• to Newtown Rte 25 through Monroe
• to Main Street Trumbull
• to Old Town Rd
• to Park Ave in Fairfield
• continuing into Bridgeport and straight down to Seaside Park with Bridgeport's Fire Rescue 5 leading the motorcade.

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m. The ride begins at 11:30 a.m. The donation per motorcycle is $25 for riders and $25 for passengers. There will be vendors, food and entertainment. Click here for ---> Registration Information.

Photo via YouTube screen grab