Cyclists love Mt Keira Rd for its steep ascent up the mountain which lends the road its name, and that's why it will be closed for the best part of a weekend come September.
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But residents the Mercury spoke to don't seem to mind much.
The UCI Road World Championships, headed for Wollongong, will climax with the elite-level women's and men's road races on September 24 and 25.
Mt Keira Rd is among many critical thoroughfares - including Five Islands and Springhill roads, and Lawrence Hargrave Drive - which will have to be closed from early morning for the races.
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Like Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Mt Keira Rd is the one way in and out of that part of West Wollongong - but residents seem to be taking the news of closures in their stride, while wishing there was more effort getting them information about the plans.
Graeme Hill, 63, out walking the dogs with son Julien, said they would handle the minor inconvenience.
"We can put up with the road being closed, with some notice," he said.
"We'll just work ourselves around it. We put up with road closures in other activities, so it's no big deal.
"It's good to see people out there doing something."
Leah Monteagudo owns Willow and Pop hair salon on Mt Keira Rd and said she hadn't heard any information from organisers about the planned closures.
"I would like to hear more (about the plans)," she said.
"It's just the Saturday for me. There's not a lot of businesses up this road, it's a very residential area."
Resident Simon Allen, 34, said he was "not too fussed either way".
"I have a Mercury subscription so I read about it there," he said.
"I'm not very precious about these things. It's good for the economy; I guess people need it after all the lockdowns.
"I might have to park my car down on the back streets and walk to it. There are lots of old people here who need care (daily) but I think the benefits outweigh the costs."
Wollongong 2022 marketing head Candice Keller said more detail about closures and opening times would come next year including details on the stretch along the coast between Bulli and Helensburgh.
"Wollongong 2022 is undertaking extensive traffic and transport management planning in partnership with the UCI, NSW Government agencies ... Wollongong City Council and traffic management experts to minimise the impact of road closures as much as possible," she said.
"Roads will be progressively reopened daily as soon as it is safe to do so."
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Ben Langford
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
