Weekend events with road closures in Toronto

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  July 15, 2014

Weekend events with road closures in Toronto

Several special events in Toronto this weekend involve road closures. Residents and visitors are encouraged to come out and enjoy these events. Businesses in the areas affected are open to pedestrian traffic, while some roads will be closed to vehicles.

Festivals and other special events are important to the city, injecting hundreds of millions of dollars annually into Toronto’s economy and they are enjoyed each year by local residents.

In addition to road closures related to special events, a significant amount of road work is taking place in the city. People are encouraged to take public transit as a greener, faster and more affordable way of getting to their destinations.

Those who need to drive in the general vicinity of special events should allow extra time to get to and from their destination. More information and a complete list of events and road work is available at http://www.toronto.ca/torontostreets/. More information about the City's planned capital construction work is available at http://www.toronto.ca/inview.

Honda Indy Weekend

On Wednesday, July 16 at noon, Strachan Avenue from Lake Shore Boulevard to Fleet Street will be closed. Later that same day, as of 9 p.m., Lake Shore Boulevard from Strachan Avenue to British Columbia Drive will be closed. Both closures are in effect until Sunday, July 20 at 11:59 p.m. There will be no eastbound or westbound traffic during this closure.

The only available access to Ontario Place will be from Lake Shore Boulevard at the foot of Strachan Avenue.

As a result of these closures, the City of Toronto's south Animal Shelter at Exhibition Place will be closed Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 20.

Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival's Junior Parade and Festival

A series of road closures will take place on Saturday, July 19 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to accommodate the parade route. The parade will begin at the back of 30 Sewells Rd. and will travel east on McLevin Avenue to Sewells Road, west on Sewells Road to Neilson Road, north on Neilson Road to Neilson Park Drive, and east on Neilson Park Drive to the entrance of Neilson Park.

Live Green Toronto Festival

Yonge Street from Edward Street (just north of Dundas Street) to Queen Street will be closed on Saturday, July 27 from 6:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. for the festival. Bay Street will be an alternative route for motorists.

Salsa on St. Clair

St. Clair Avenue from Winona Drive to Christie Street will be closed in both directions from Saturday, July 19 at 8 a.m. to Sunday, July 20 at 11 p.m. Vaughan Road and Davenport Road will be alternative east-west routes for motorists.

Chinatown Festival

Dundas Avenue West from Spadina Avenue to Beverley Street will be closed from Saturday, July 19 at 12:01 a.m. to Sunday, July 20 at 11 p.m.

Big on Bloor

Bloor Street from Dufferin Street to Lansdowne Avenue will be closed in both directions from Saturday, July 19 at 9 a.m. to Sunday, July 20 at 9 p.m. College Street and St. Clair Avenue will be alternative routes for motorists.

Thrill of the Grill

Danforth Avenue from Broadview Avenue to Jackman Avenue will be closed in both directions on Saturday, July 19 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Youth Day Event

Yonge Street from Queen Street to Dundas Street will be closed in both directions on Sunday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bay Street and Church Street will be alternative routes for motorists.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/1sZAlou

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Bruce Hawkins, Strategic Communications, 416-392-3496, bhawkin@toronto.ca