TRAFFIC INFO 25th of June, 2007
General review
WMOC events in Kuusamo take mainly place in Ruka and its surroundings. The competitions themselves take place in terrain conditions and this causes some exceptional arrangements as to parking among other things. To make individual car parking arrangements easier without forgetting the environment either the organizers hope the competitors use organizers’ joint transport and mutual joint rides as efficiently as possible.
To be able to estimate the number of club buses arriving to the events and to improve service the organizers hope that the travel organizers or clubs who arrive by club buses inform us of their arrival as soon as possible to the WMOC office, tel. 08-8181122 or e-mail info@wmoc2007.fi
The construction work at the Ruka Central Square causes traffic limitations at the central square of Ruka tourist center. The area of the central square cannot be used for parking at all and the event center (EC) in Ruka congress center can only be reached via Ruka skiing stadium. The bus stops for the WMOC buses that go according to schedule in Ruka area and the organizers’ nonstop buses that drive between assembly areas are in front of the EC.
Make sure that you have enough time for moving to event areas!
Traffic in all the events is guided by traffic guides and soldiers wearing yellow vests. N.B.! Bicycle parking is as close to the assembly areas as possible . Caravans are not allowed in the competition areas.
Driving instructions
Instruction signs can be recognised on the basis of the WMOC-logo that you can see at the top of this info. These signs to the events can be found along all the main roads leading to Kuusamo and more precise eventwise guiding starts in Ruka at the joint of Ruka touris center and the main road number 5 (E63). The signs from the EC lead you to the competition events.
The following abbreviations are used in the signs:
EC Event Center in Ruka congress center (where for example material is given out and the media center is situated)
MN Midnight Sun Race at Ruka skiing stadium on Sunday 8th of July
M1 Model Event 1 in Vuosseli on Monday 9th of July
M2 Model Event 2 in Tahkolanranta on Monday 9th of July
Q1 Qualification 1 in Tahkolanranta on Tuesday 10th of July
Q2 Qualification 2 in Tahkolanranta on Wednesday 11th of July
Final Final in Tahkolanranta on Friday 13th of July
Midnight Sun Race (MN) 8th of July
Individual car parking mainly at Ruka skiing stadium and surroundings, buses are parked at Ruka School yard. It is recommended that those who have accommodation near Ruka skiing stadium and its surroundings come to the event on foot or use WMOC buses.
Model Event 1 (M1) 9th of July
The distance from the EC to the start is about 8.5 km.
Model Event 1 start cannot be reached by individual cars or buses, but you have to use organizers’ joint transport. The start can be reached by nonstop buses that go from the EC and back. Individual cars and buses can park in in eastern Ruka , at the car parks of Masto and Vuosseli lift stations and these are about 5 km from the EC. Organizers’ shuttle bus service to the model event start and back is available.
Model Event 2 (M2) 9th of July
The distance from the EC is about 13 km.
The start can be reached by nonstop buses going from the EC and back. Individual cars and club buses can park near the start area (100-400m).
Opening Ceremony 9th of July
The opening ceremony will be held in the sports field of Kuusamo center where the participants march from the sports hall along Kitkantie Road that is closed from other traffic. The marchers group themselves behind their national flags at the sports hall car park. The opening march starts at 5.30 p.m., so the participants are asked to come in time to the grouping area (by 5.15 p.m.). WMOC buses from Ruka arrive according to schedule and also buses that leave in front of the EC at 4.30 p.m. They return at 7.00 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. from the sports hall car park.
Those who come from Ruka reach the sports hall best along Kitkantie Road leading to the center. Individual cars are guided to the car parks of sports hall and nearby, buses are guided either to the sports hall or the bus station.
Qualification 1 (Q1) 10th of July
The distance from the EC to the car park is about 10 km.
Individual car parks are mainly 0-800 m and buses 300-1000 m away from the assembly area. Nonstop buses are 300 m away. A reserve area is Q2 car park about 4.5 km from the assembly area onwards. Shuttle bus service from there to the assembly area. During the Qualification 1 there is Nonstop bus service also between the EC and the assembly area.
Qualification 2 (Q2) 11th of July
The distance from the EC to the car parks is about 14-15 km.
Individual car parks are 700-1600 m and buses 150-500 m away from the assembly area. Nonstop bus stop is 100 m away.
During the Qualification 2 Tahkolanrannantie Road passing the assembly area will be changed to a one-way road. The traffic will flow onwards to Virkkulantie Road and from there onwards via main road number 5 to Ruka.
Nonstop busses drive the same one-way traffic route (EC-Tahkolanranta-assembly area-Virkkulantie-main road number 5- EC).
Final (Final) 13th of July
The distance from the EC to the car parks is about 14-15 km.
Individual car parks are 100-2200 m and buses 700-1200 m away from the assembly area. Nonstop bus stop by Tahkolanrannantie Road is about 600 m away. Tahkolanrannantie Road is further one-way road as during Qualification 2 and nonstop buses drive the same route as on Wednesday.
