Weekend need-to-know: Toronto Marathon hits the pavement

Thousands of runners from across the world will hit the Toronto pavement for the marathon this weekend. Get out to cheer them on or catch the PWHL Toronto’s final regular season game.

As you make your plans, consult the list below for TTC closures and other transit disruptions, as well as ongoing road closures due to construction.

Events

Toronto Marathon

Thousands of runners from more than 50 countries are expected to take to Toronto streets this Sunday for the Toronto Marathon, which includes the marathon, half-marathon run and walk, 10K, relay and 5K run and walk events.

The marathon has a goal of surpassing $1 million in donations that will benefit multiple local charities including the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, CAMH and SickKids Foundation.

The marathon kicks off at Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue at 7:30 a.m. while the 10K and 5K runs will begin at the Queen Elizabeth Building. Details of road closures are available below.

PWHL Toronto vs. PWHL Ottawa

The last game of the PWHL regular season will be this Sunday at Mattamy Athletic Centre where Toronto will take on Ottawa. Toronto has already clinched their playoff spot, while Ottawa is still vying to compete in the first playoffs of the new league.

Tickets for the game are available here.

The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival

The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival kicks off this weekend and will feature 200 exhibitions throughout the month of May in the GTA.

The largest photography event in the world was founded in 1997 and presents work by a diversity of artists, documentary photographers and photojournalists.

Most of the events are free and more details on where to find the installations can be found here.

Toronto Met Film Fest

The Toronto Met Film Fes will showcase the work of Toronto Metropolitan University Film Studies graduates at the Winter Garden Theatre this weekend.

The event shines a spotlight on the newest voices in Toronto’s Film Industry and gives the filmmakers a chance to showcase their work.

The full schedule is available on their website along with tickets to purchase for the shows.

Canada’s Wonderland Reopening Weekend

Canada’s Wonderland is reopening its doors this weekend for the 2024 season. The 330-acre park features 200 attractions, 70 rides and Splash Works.

Tickets and season passes are available now.

TTC/GO closures

Line 1 Yonge-University

On Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, 2024, subway service on Line 1 Yonge-University between Lawrence West and Wilson stations will operate on a single-track. Customers may experience delays of up to 15 minutes between Lawrence West and Wilson stations during this time.

Lakeshore West GO

Lakeshore West trains will operate every 15 minutes between Union Station to Oakville GO, and then hourly between Oakville to West Harbour GO stations due to critical track work in the corridor.

Some scheduled trains between Aldershot GO and West Harbour GO will be operating via GO Bus replacement.

Road closures

Ongoing Gardiner closures

As part of the long-term construction plan on the Gardiner Expressway, one westbound lane and one eastbound lane are closed between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue. The eastbound on-ramp from Lake Shore Boulevard at Jameson Avenue is also closed.

Temporary city closures

Cherry Street: Cherry Street is closed south of Polson Pier due to maintenance on the Ship Channel Lift Bridge (Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge). Road users are able to access the Port of Toronto and Cherry Beach via Unwin Avenue. 

Vaudeville Drive: From Friday, May 3 at noon to Saturday, May 4 at 1 a.m., Vaudeville Drive will be closed between Father Redmond Way and Treeview Drive for the filming of a television series. 

Bay Street: From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, Bay Street will be closed between Richmond and Adelaide Streets for the safe use of a hoist. 

Intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard and Bay Street: From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, the following restrictions will be in place at the intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard and Bay Street while Enbridge completes road restoration work following the installation of a gas main: 

• Bay Street will be reduced to one northbound and one southbound lane at Lake Shore Boulevard. 
• Lake Shore Boulevard will be reduced to a single westbound lane leading up to Bay Street. Northbound left turns will be restricted. 

Bleecker Street: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, Bleecker Street will be fully closed between Carlton and Wellesley Streets for the replacement of a Toronto Hydro transformer. Local access will be maintained. 

Queens Park Crescent: On Sunday, May 5, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Queens Park Crescent will be closed between College Street and Bloor Street West for the annual Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance. 

Toronto Marathon Closures:

Between 5:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, lane closures will be in effect on various streets between North York, Downtown and Etobicoke for the annual Toronto Marathon. Roads will reopen in phases as the marathon progresses. Major roads impacted include:  

• Yonge Street between Churchill Avenue and Belmont Street 
• Spadina Road between Lonsdale Road and Austin Terrace 
• Rosedale Valley Road 
• Bayview Avenue 
• Eastern Avenue 
• Front Street East 
• Lake Shore Boulevard West 

Etobicoke Khalsa Day parade: 

From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, the following road restrictions will be in place for the annual Khalsa Day parade in Etobicoke: 

• Morning Star Drive will be closed between Airport Road and Humberwood Boulevard. 
• Humberwood Boulevard will be closed from Morning Star Drive to Humberline Drive. 
• Humberline Drive will be closed from Humberwood Boulevard to Finch Avenue West. 
• Eastbound lanes on Finch Avenue West will be closed between Humberline Drive and Woodbine Downs Boulevard. 
• Northbound lanes on Woodbine Downs Boulevard will be closed between Finch Avenue and Carrier Drive. 
• Eastbound lanes on Carrier Drive will be closed between Woodbine Downs Boulevard and the Sikh Spiritual Centre at 9 Carrier Drive. 

Other ongoing city closures

• O’Connor Drive is down to a single lane each way between Bermondsey and Sandra for road reconstruction and sewer and watermain installation until the summer of 2024.
• The Yonge and Bloor intersection will be reduced to a single lane all ways for condo construction and sewer installation until 2025.
• University Avenue will be reduced to a single lane in both directions between College Street and Queen Street West to complete several infrastructure projects for the next several months.
• Queen Street is fully closed to traffic between Bay and Victoria Streets to accommodate work on a new station for the Ontario Line subway. The closure is scheduled to last for at least four-and-a-half years until 2027.
• Northbound Yonge Street is reduced to one lane between Wellington and King Streets for TTC construction. The project is scheduled to continue into 2024.
• Two northbound lanes of Yonge Street from King Street to Wellington Street are closed for TTC construction until Sept. 30, 2024.
• Finch Avenue West is reduced to a single lane in both directions from Dufferin to Wilmington for sewer installation until October 2024.
• Eglinton Avenue West is down to a single lane east of Islington and west of Scarlett Road for tunneling work related to the multi-year Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project.