Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday night threw their support behind the closing of the South Lawrence Trafficway for a few hours May 12 to allow for bicycle race time trials.

Commissioners Bob Johnson, Jere McElhaney and Charles Jones unanimously agreed to have a letter sent to the Kansas Department of Transportation requesting the SLT closure from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The closure would allow the National Collegiate Cycle Assn. to hold its National Team Time Trial Championship.

The event would be part of a three-day NCCA championship to be held May 12-14 in Lawrence, Douglas County and Jefferson County. The same event was held here last year.

If KDOT approves, the SLT will be closed from the Lecompton turnpike interchange to U.S. Highway 59 at the south edge of Lawrence. Signs will be placed on the turnpike alerting motorists to the change in the days leading up to the event, said Bob Sanner, director of conventions and sports for the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In other business, commissioners approved funding for a program to obtain new land elevation data and update aerial photography of the county. The project would be conducted in conjunction with the city of Lawrence. The county’s cost for the project is not to exceed $300,000.

New elevation data will meet standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in preparing floodplain mapping, said Rick Miller, head of the county’s geographic information system. The data, along with new aerial mapping, also will aid in the planning of public works projects and establishing communications towers, Miller said.

The county’s portion of the project will include land outside the city of Lawrence and the urban growth district ring around the city.