Heading to the CNE? Here’s what you need to know about transit, road closures
Dozens of extra police officers and on-site cameras will be deployed to help keep traffic moving as thousands are expected to descend on the city for the Canadian National Exhibition over the next two weeks.
A number of road closures will also be in effect for the duration of the fair, running Aug. 16 to Sept. 2. You can find them at the bottom of this story.
Darrell Brown, CEO of the Canadian National Exhibition Association, says fair organizers are prepared, but are aware there may be more challenges this year compared to previous years given major traffic congestion in Toronto.
“It’s surreal,” he said. “There’s going to be lots of cars.”
Brown said the organization has worked out a plan with the city to manage traffic that involves having a CNE person at the city’s traffic control centre to monitor flow.
Roughly 46 per cent of people who go to the fair come from outside of Toronto and many will likely drive to the site, Brown added, saying he encourages people to use transit.
“It’s fantastic to take the GO, to take the TTC, to take the streetcars, the buses. They all converge here and it’s an easy way to get here,” he said.
According to local residents, construction and road closures in the area are causing much of the congestion.
One Liberty Village resident said traffic in the neighbourhood, including on side roads, is bumper to bumper when major events and festivals are happening at Exhibition Grounds.
Asked what he expects during the Ex, John Kolokotronis said: “Complete and utter chaos.”
“For drivers, it’s pretty bad.”
TTC, Metrolinx increasing service to the Ex
Transit agencies, however, are increasing service to the Ex during the fair.
Starting Aug. 16 until Sep. 2, the TTC will run special CNE Express buses from Bathurst and Dufferin stations.
It will also add extra service on Dufferin bus routes, as well as on the 509 Harbourfront and 511 Bathurst streetcar routes to accommodate increased demand. Details can be found here.
Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency, says it will add GO Train service on the Lake Shore East and West lines. The agency is adding 14 new weekday trains on the Lakeshore West Line between Union Station and Burlington GO and three weekday trains on the Lakeshore East Line. Details can be found here.
Road closures, restrictions you need to know about
A number of road closures, lane restrictions and construction will be in place during the fair, the city says.
- British Columbia Road: British Columbia Road will be closed from 5 a.m. on Saturdays to 11:59 p.m. on Sundays, between Lake Shore Boulevard W. and Dufferin Street Bridge during the CNE. Traffic will be directed north on Dufferin Street towards King Street W.
- Gardiner Expressway: Work continues on two southbound lanes of the Gardiner Expressway, from Dufferin Street to Strachan Avenue. Crews have begun to install deck reinforcing steel. Girders have been prefabricated, and bent caps, which support the roadway, have been formed. Concrete pouring to form the base of the new roadway is set to begin on Sunday evening. “Work is being coordinated to ensure access to the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is maintained throughout the event,” the city said.
- Dufferin Street: Dufferin Street will be closed from 8 p.m. on Saturday to 12 p.m. on Sunday, between Billy Bishop Way and Yorkdale Road for bridge demolition. Traffic will be directed to detour east of Dufferin Street onto Allen Road.
- King Street W.: One lane is open eastbound on King Street W. from Dufferin Street to Shaw Street for work to replace aging TTC streetcar tracks. Starting Monday, one lane in each direction will be open on King Street between Dufferin and Shaw Streets. Phased road closures will continue between Dufferin and Shaw Streets until September, followed by intermittent lane closures, as needed, until November to complete overhead work and road restoration.
- Bloor Street W.: Until Monday, several lane closures are in effect on Bloor Street W. for ongoing emergency watermain work and road reconstruction: The westbound vehicle lane on Bloor Street W.is closed from Huron Street to Bedford Road. The westbound cycle track on Bloor Street W. is closed from Bedford Road to Madison Avenue. St. George Street is closed to northbound vehicle traffic from Sussex Avenue to St. George Station. A full closure of the intersection of Bloor Street W. and St. George Street is scheduled from Aug. 19 to Aug. 26 for the complete reconstruction of the intersection.
- Bridge rehabilitation: The city is rehabilitating four bridges: Eastern Avenue Bridge; Don Valley Parkway off ramp over Don River; Richmond Street East Bridge over King Street E.; Adelaide Street Bridge over King Street E. Until the end of August, one eastbound lane on Eastern Avenue will be closed between Sumach Street and Broadview Avenue.
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