Toronto police are asking drivers to be aware of alternative routes before heading downtown today as there are several major events, most notably the Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade.
The parade, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., will begin at the fairgrounds.
Revelers will travel west on Lake Shore Boulevard West, south of Jameson Avenue and then continue east on Lake Shore Boulevard West. The masquerade bands will return to Exhibition Place for judging via Newfoundland Road.
As a result, several roads in this immediate area will be affected from 2am on Saturday 30 July until 6am on Sunday 31 July.
Lake Shore Boulevard West from Strachan Avenue to Colborne Lodge Drive and Strachan Avenue southbound to Fleet Street will be fully closed, while Lake Shore Boulevard West westbound between Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard will be open to local traffic only. The Princes Gates at Exhibition Place are also closed to traffic on Saturday from 1:00am.
Several Gardiner Expressway ramps in this vicinity will also be affected, including the westbound on-ramp at Jameson Avenue, the eastbound exit ramp at Jameson Avenue and the eastbound on-ramp at Jameson Avenue ramps, Lake Shore Boulevard West at British Columbia Road and the westbound exit. ramp at Dunn Ave.
The following streets will also be restricted to local traffic only: Dufferin Street, south of King Street West; Dowling Avenue, south of King Street West; Stadium Road, south of Lake Shore Boulevard West; Queens Quay West, west of Bathurst Street; Springhurst Avenue, east and west of Jameson Avenue; and Remembrance Drive.
Although not restricted to vehicles, streets south of King Street West, east of Colborne Lodge and west of Bathurst Street will be strictly enforced for parking violations. All vehicles, including tour buses, illegally parked on Lake Shore Boulevard West (including the grassed area), Bathurst, Fleet, King, Queen and Dufferin Streets, Roncesvalles Avenue and The Queensway will be tagged and towed. The same applies to those parked illegally in Parkdale and Stadium Road.
Police advise drivers to expect delays and plan ahead.
Also, people are asked to consider taking public transportation, rather than driving downtown to the parade.
The big parade takes place today and the city will be busy! There will be several road closures, so plan ahead. #TorontoCarnival2022 1/2
— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) July 30, 2022
There will also be increased visibility of police officers throughout the city this weekend to provide crowd/traffic management and ensure public safety, police said in a July 29 news release.
“The service will have resources dedicated to the urban core and the coastal area at night to maintain public safety and respond quickly to any incident,” they said.
“Residents and visitors are encouraged to reach out to officers with any questions and follow our Twitter account for the latest information: @TPSOperations.”