It's official: RAGBRAI riders will be touring through town on Newton's main artery.
The Newton City Council on May 15 approved the RAGBRAI route, the entry point of which will be Highway F-48 West/First Avenue West and the exit point will be Highway 6/First Avenue East. Council members were given a choice between two different route options, which were debated at a past meeting.
—Route A would have cyclists leave the downtown on North Second Avenue East to East Seventh Street North, then to North Fourth Avenue East, then to Highway T-12 North and then onto Highway 6.
—Route B would have cyclists leaving downtown on East Third Street North to First Avenue East, then travel the length of First Avenue all the way to Highway 6.