You may have already noticed the drive along Toronto’s Lake Shore Boulevard is a little slower than usual.
Road closures for the Honda Indy took effect on Wednesday and will remain in place all weekend until 11 p.m. on Sunday.
The two closures include southbound Strachan Avenue from Fleet Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West, and Lake Shore Boulevard West between Strachan Avenue to British Columbia Drive.
Motorists are advised to expect significant delays and encouraged to plan alternate routes into the city.
Both the TTC and GO Transit are offering increased service to Exhibition Place for the event, however service will be affected for the 121 Fort York-Esplanade, 145 Downtown/Humber Bay Express, 510 Spadina, and 514 Cherry routes.
From Union Station, commuters can take the 509 Harbourfront westbound route to Strachan Avenue and walk to Exhibition Place. Those coming from Bathurst Station can take the 511 Bathurst southbound route to Strachan Avenue and finish by walking to the event.
Toronto police are reminding spectators the use of drones in and around the venue is strictly prohibited. Anyone found to be operating an unmanned air vehicle will be in violation of restricted airspace and will be subjected to investigation and/or prosecution.
TTC Line 2 Closure
Commuters are being advised of a subway closure on a portion of the TTC’s Line 2 both weekend days.
There will be no service between Jane and Ossington stations as crews carry out track work in the area.
Shuttle buses will operate between the stations during the closure and Wheel-Trans buses will be available upon request.
The TTC says parking on a portion of Bloor Street will be temporarily restricted on the weekend to keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible. Both sides of the roadway will be closed to parking between Jane Street and Ossington Avenue from 3:30 a.m. Saturday to 12:01 a.m. Monday.
Bloor West Village Street Festival
Motorists are being advised of a full road closure on a section of Bloor Street to allow for the Bloor West Village Street Festival to take place.
The roadway between Runnymede Road and Armadale Avenue will be fully blocked to vehicles starting 6 a.m. Saturday morning and running until midnight, with the festival getting underway at 10 a.m. The event will take place regardless of weather conditions.
TTC buses may also experience delays in the area.
Commuters coming from Ossington Station are advised to take the subway closure shuttle to Runnymede Station and walk west on Bloor Street. Those coming from Jane Station can walk east on Bloor Street, and commuters at St. George Station are advised to take the 26 Dupont to Jane Station and finish by walking east on Bloor Street to the festival.
ISKCON Parade
The 45th annual International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) religious and cultural parade will take place on Saturday.
At 11 a.m., it will begin at Asquith Avenue then travel southbound on Yonge Street to Queen’s Quay. Next, the parade will head eastbound to Lower Sherbourne Street, then northbound into Sherbourne Common where it will come to an end.
Those commuting in the area will likely be impacted and are asked to consider taking alternate routes.
The event will take place regardless of weather conditions.
Other events around Toronto
- Unity Festival: A three-day festival will showcase art and personal stories by local artists representing their communities. The headline performance includes Main Source at David Pecaut Square on Saturday. It began Thursday and runs until Saturday at Geary Lane, Underpass Park and David Pecaut Square.
- Budweiser County Fair: The fair on Friday and Saturday brings the spirit of country to the heart of the city, with carnival games, BBQ eats and line dancing lessons all part of the festivities. It takes place on King Street near Bathurst Street.
- Beaches Jazz Latin Carnival: many featured artists will take the stage Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Woodbine Park. You can find the full lineup here.
- Halal Food Fest Toronto: A number of halal restaurants, manufacturers, bakeries and specialty stores from around the world will be on the show floor Saturday and Sunday at The International Centre.
- Festival of India: The 45th annual event runs Saturday and Sunday and is part of the ISKCON Parade down a section of Yonge Street. Afterwards, participants can head to Sherbourne Common for the festival, free of charge.
- North American Indigenous Games 2017: It’s expected to be the largest sporting and cultural gathering of Indigenous Peoples in North America. More than 5,000 participants, 2,000 volunteers and countless spectators will take part in the 14 sport categories being held around the Greater Toronto Area. For more information, visit their website here.