It's going to be a total nightmare getting anywhere in Toronto this weekend - blogTO
Major Road Closures for Supertri Toronto
Several major roadways in Toronto are scheduled for closures this weekend to accommodate the 13th annual Supertri Toronto, an event previously known as the Toronto Triathlon Festival. Motorists are advised to anticipate significant disruptions and plan alternative routes, particularly on Sunday.
The triathlon, which includes a 1.5-kilometre swim, a 40-kilometre bike ride, and a 10-kilometre run, will impact key arteries such as the Gardiner Expressway, the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), and portions of Lake Shore Boulevard West. The event is expected to draw over 1,750 athletes and more than 200 volunteers, necessitating temporary road and lane closures around Exhibition Place to ensure safety for all participants and spectators.
On Sunday, the eastbound Gardiner Expressway will be closed from the Humber River to the DVP from 2 a.m. to 12 p.m. Concurrently, the northbound DVP will be shut down from the Gardiner Expressway to Eglinton Avenue during the same timeframe. These closures are critical for the cycling portion of the triathlon, which utilizes these major thoroughfares.
Additionally, sections of Lake Shore Boulevard West will experience lane closures. The westbound curb lane, stretching from New Brunswick Way to British Columbia Road, will be closed from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. The eastbound curb lane of Lake Shore Boulevard West, from Ontario Drive to east of British Columbia Road, will be closed from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Chinatown Festival and Transit Disruptions
In addition to the triathlon, the Toronto Chinatown Festival will also be taking place this weekend. The festival is scheduled for Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., centered around the area of Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street West.
Road closures for the festival will be in effect on southbound Spadina Avenue between Sullivan and St. Andrew Streets, starting from midnight on Friday and lasting until midnight on Sunday. These closures will further contribute to traffic congestion in the downtown core, and police have advised motorists to consider alternative transportation methods.
Public transit users may also face disruptions. On Sunday, Line 1 subway service between St. George and Broadview stations will not commence until 11 a.m. due to planned infrastructure maintenance. Shuttle buses will be provided to replace subway service along this segment of Line 1.
GO Transit services will also be affected. On both Saturday and Sunday, GO buses will substitute for train service on the Kitchener Line between Stratford or Kitchener and Mount Pleasant GO stations. Furthermore, there will be no GO train service on the Barrie Line between Allandale Waterfront GO and Union Station throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Sports Teams Away, Motorists Urged to Plan Ahead
For those considering driving into Toronto’s downtown core this weekend, authorities strongly recommend reconsidering that option. Toronto police have issued a news release encouraging motorists to plan ahead by allowing extra travel time, considering alternate routes, and adhering to all posted detour signage and directions from police officers and event personnel.
A positive note for sports fans is that all four major professional sports teams from Toronto will either be off or playing away from the city this weekend. The Blue Jays are scheduled for a three-game series in Boston against the Red Sox. The Argonauts and Toronto FC will play on Saturday in Vancouver and Washington, D.C., respectively. The Tempo will have an eight-day break before their next game against the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis next Tuesday.
The Supertri Toronto event is described as one of North America’s most iconic urban race experiences, and it previously served as a test event for the 2015 Pan Am Games.
Source: cp24.com
