Now that summer has drawn to a (bittersweet) close, it's time to bid farewell to the City's ActiveTO program, which has been deemed a popular attraction for tens of thousands of locals each weekend.
This marks the final weekend for a number of downtown streets to go completely car-free and open up for pedestrians and cyclists. And with temperatures set to be in the high twenties, you better believe it's going to be one of the busiest ActiveTO weekends yet.
This Saturday and Sunday from 6 am to 11 pm, Lake Shore Boulevard West (eastbound lanes only) from Windermere Avenue to Stadium Road will be closed. As a result, the eastbound Gardiner Expressway off-ramp to Lake Shore Boulevard West (exit #146) will also be closed. Bayview Avenue from Front Street East to Rosedale Valley Road and River Street from Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue will also be closed.
READ: All Major Outdoor Events in Toronto Cancelled Until End of 2020
According to newly released data from the City, an average of 18,000 cyclists and 4,000 pedestrians took advantage of the closures on Lake Boulevard West on days without significant rainfall in June, July, and August.
The closure on Lake Shore Boulevard, meanwhile, attracted an average of 6,300 cyclists and 5,700 pedestrians on summer weekend days while Bayview Avenue saw upwards of 2,000 cyclists and 300 pedestrians.
Other road closures to prepare for:
The eastbound Gardiner Expressway from Yonge Street to Cherry Street will be reduced to a single lane for construction from 6 am on Saturday, September 26 to 6 am on Sunday, September 27. As a result, the closure typically planned on Lake Shore Boulevard East (Leslie St. to Woodbine Ave) will not be in place this weekend. Keeping the route open to vehicles provides more alternate routes for drivers while important and necessary long-term work on the Gardiner Expressway takes place.
As well, part of Yonge Street will be closed on Sunday, September 27. Vehicle access on Yonge Street will be restricted starting between 8 and 10 am and all access points will be fully re-opened for vehicles between 2 and 3 pm:
- Yonge Street from Gerrard Street to The Esplanade (northbound and southbound lanes)
- Yonge Street from The Esplanade to Queens Quay (northbound lanes only)
Those heading out to enjoy the last of ActiveTO this weekend should also keep in mind that parking lots at Sunnyside Park, Budapest Park and Sir Casimir Gzowski Park, along Lake Shore Boulevard West, will be closed all weekend during ActiveTO closures. Overnight parking is not permitted in these lots and any vehicles should be moved before midnight on Friday.
