Those travelling in and around Toronto should plan for extensive delays and road closures, as a multitude of people will be crowding downtown for festivals and other events that will make driving more difficult than usual.
One of the city’s most popular events, the 24th annual Taste of Little Italy Festival, opened on June 16 at 7 p.m. and will remain open until Monday at 11 p.m.
The three-day street festival brings over 250,000 people into the city to fill the streets with Italian food and retail vendors, live performance stages, and beer gardens.
The festival will have College Street completely closed to vehicular traffic between Shaw and Bathurst.
In 1985, the Little Italy BIA was founded in the heart of College Street by a dedicated group of commercial and industrial property owners and tenants empowered by the municipality of Toronto. Photo credit: Little Italy & Google Maps
Toronto Police are warning drivers to plan alternate routes while in the downtown core, in order to avoid the inevitable congestion caused by the festival event.
“The TTC will not be operating within these boundaries during the road closure times specified,” Constable Sinderela Chung said.
College Street will not reopen until Monday, June 19, at 3 a.m. in order for staff and crew to remove festival installations, after the celebration comes to a close Monday night.
The Under Armour 10k run along the waterfront will also took place this Father’s Day weekend, and closed multiple roadways for the race on Saturday, June 17.
Fort York Blvd. between Fleet Street and Lake Shore Blvd. W., Strachan Ave. between Fleet Street and Lake Shore Blvd. West, and Lake Shore Blvd. W from Bathurst to Windermere Avenue were closed from 4 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The theme of this year's Under Armour Toronto 10K run is community. Photo credit: Under Armour & Google Maps
There was only limited access to parking lots for certain local businesses and Sunnyside Park and Beach.
Again, Toronto Police are told motorists to expect delays in the surrounding area. The TTC also experienced some delays and diversions in the area.
Constable Victor Kwong said the only exceptions would be Palais Royale, the Boulevard Club, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344, and Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club, which will be provided access using the eastbound curb lane on Lake Shore Boulevard West, and access to HMCS York, Coronation Park, and Ontario Place will be provided entrance from Stadium Road.
Due to the Yorkville Exotic Car Show happening on Sunday, June 18, a number of streets will also be closed for the duration of that day from 5:30 a.m. through to the evening, until 8:30 p.m.
The largest issue with the roadway closures is the diversion of traffic from the usually congested Bloor Street West between Avenue Road and Bay Street.
Bellair Street from Bloor to Critchley Lane and St. Thomas Street from Bloor to Sultan Street will also be blocked off for the duration of the event.
With this summer’s traffic already looking hectic early into the warm season of large outdoor events and festivals, many local Torontonians have taken to social media to vent their frustrations.
Toronto Resident, Debra Cornell, took to Facebook to share her opinions on Toronto’s movability and accessibility.
“It seems all the city planning, whether for housing or travel, is for able single people. It seems no families, elderly or disabled are thought of,” Cornell said.