More than 30,000 runners are racing to the finish line this weekend as the Toronto Waterfront Marathon makes its annual return, along with a wave of road closures.
Upwards of 100,000 visitors from more than 70 countries are expected to line the city streets, cheering on the spectacle of elite and recreational athletes across the downtown core.
Celebrating 36 years of the annual event, runners and spectators alike are in for a jam-packed weekend of races: the five-kilometre run will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18, while the full marathon (42.2 km) and half marathon (21.1 km) are set for Sunday, Oct 19.
The five-kilometre run starts at 9 a.m. at Nathan Phillips Square, finishing at the same spot. The full and half marathon start at 8 a.m. on Yonge St. between Elm St. and Queen St., and finish at Nathan Phillips Square.
Several road closures and route diversions are set for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon as early as Friday. Here’s what you can expect.
Friday, Oct. 17
Some road closures are starting from 7 p.m. for pre-event set-up in the finish line area, including:
- Bay St., from Dundas St. W. to Queen St. W.
- Hagerman St., from Elizabeth St. to Bay St.
- Elizabeth St., from Dundas St. W. to Hagerman St.
- Albert St., from Bay St. to James St.
- James St., from Albert St. to Queen St.
Saturday, Oct. 18
Taking public transit to the races is highly suggested to reduce impact on travel times. On Saturday, TTC Subway Service opens at 6 a.m., and riders should get off at Osgoode or Queen Subway stations along the Line 1–Yonge-University to arrive closest to the start and finish Line at Nathan Phillips Square.
For streetcars:
- 505 Dundas and 506 Carlton Streetcars will have regular service;
- 501 Queen will operate until 8:15 a.m., then will start diverting away from road closures;
- 504 King will start diverting after 7:00 a.m.
Road closures starting at 4 a.m:
- University Ave., from Dundas St. W. to Wellington St. W.
- Queen St., from York St. to Edward St.
Road closures starting at 8 a.m;
- Wellington St. W., from University Ave. to Bay St.
- Bay St., from Queen St.West to Lake Shore Blvd W.
- Lake Shore Blvd W.; from Bay St. to Spadina Ave.
These streets are scheduled to reopen on Oct. 18 at 12 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 19
On Sunday, subway service begins at 8 a.m. Public transit is once again strongly recommended to get to the race, including using the Yonge and Bloor streets buses routes, but there are several closures and timed diversions to be mindful of, including:
- The last westbound Bloor St. bus will cross Christie St. at 7 a.m.
- All Yonge St. buses will be diverting down Church St. If riders are taking the Bloor bus eastbound from the west side of the city, they should get off at Church St. and get on the Yonge St. bus there to travel south to the start area on Yonge St. or Race Central at Nathan Phillips Square at Queen and Bay streets
- All Bloor St. buses heading west will divert at Church St. starting at 7 a.m.
Road closures starting at 4 a.m.:
- Bay St., from Queen St. W. to Lake Shore Blvd. W.
- Yonge St., from Dundas St. to Richmond St. W.
- Queen St. W., from York St. to Yonge St.
Road closures starting at 5 a.m.:
- Lake Shore Blvd., from Windermere Ave. to Yonge St.
Road closures starting at 6 a.m.:
- Temperance St., from Sheppard St. to Yonge St.
- Richmond St. W., from York St. to Yonge St.
- Adelaide St. W., from York St. to Yonge St.
- Front St., from Church St. to Jarvis St.
- Wellington St., from York St. to Church St.
Road closures starting at 7 a.m.:
- King St. W., from York St. to Yonge St.
- Yonge St., from Bloor St. W. to Gerrard St.
- Bloor St. W., from Bathurst St. to Yonge St.
- Bathurst St., from Bloor St. W. to Lake Shore Blvd. W.
- Fort York Blvd., from Lake Shore Blvd. W. to Bathurst St.
- Cherry St., from Eastern Ave. to Mill St.
- Front St. E., from Cherry St. to Bayview Ave.
- Bayview Ave., from Rosedale Valley Rd. to Front St.
Road closures starting at 8 a.m.:
- Lake Shore Blvd E., from Carlaw Ave. to Woodbine Ave.
- Woodbine Ave., from Queen St. to Lake Shore Blvd. E.
- Eastern Ave., from Jarvis St. to Carlaw Ave.
- Queen St. E., from Woodbine Ave. to Beech Ave.
- Carlaw Ave., from Eastern Ave. to Lakeshore Blvd.
These streets are scheduled to reopen on Oct. 19 at 4 p.m.
Additionally, there will be changes to ramp access on the Gardiner Expressway on Sunday starting at 4 a.m., including:
Eastbound:
- Lake Shore Blvd. off ramp (west end) – OPEN (EB Lake Shore closed at Windermere until 1 p.m.)
- Jameson Ave off ramp – CLOSED (5 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
- Jameson Ave on ramp – NO ACCESS UNTIL 1 p.m.
- British Columbia Dr. on ramp – NO ACCESS FROM Lake Shore UNTIL 1 p.m. (access available from Exhibition Place)
- Spadina Ave off ramp – OPEN – Spadina off ramp exit gate will be opened to allow cars to enter on to the EB Lake Shore
- Rees St on ramp – OPEN
- Bay St on ramp – OPEN
- Jarvis St on ramp – UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Westbound:
- Lake Shore Blvd off ramp (west end) – OPEN
- Lake Shore Blvd on ramp (west end) – OPEN
- South Kingsway off ramp – OPEN
- Jameson Ave on ramp – OPEN (access from SB Jameson until 1 p.m.)
- Dunn Ave off ramp – OPEN
- Spadina Ave on ramp – Access to FGX OPEN, Lake Shore CLOSED (5 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
- Spadina Ave off ramp – Access to Spadina OPEN, Lake Shore CLOSED (5 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
- York St on ramp – OPEN, access from north of Lake Shore up until 1 p.m.
- Yonge/Bay off Ramp – CLOSED (5 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
- Jarvis off ramp – OPEN
- Jarvis St on ramp – OPEN
For more information on the race, visit Toronto Waterfront Marathon’s website.
