Multiple road closures to make for a weekend of nightmare traffic in Toronto

As events ramp up in Toronto — FIFA World Cup, Pride, and a slew of street festivals — certain roads will be closed, making it trickier than usual to get around the city.

In addition to the many road closures in place on FIFA match days (including Friday afternoon when Canada takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina), there are other roads that will be impacted by other big events taking place in Toronto.

Here are all the major road closures you need to know about before heading out this weekend:

College Street

Taste of Little Italy is back this season, and that means College Street between Bathurst Street and Shaw Street will once again be closed this weekend on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14. College Street will officially reopen on Monday at 3 a.m. 

The Queensway & The West Mall

Thousands of cyclists are expected to take part in the annual Princess Margaret Ride charity event. On Saturday, June 13, a huge portion of the Queensway will be closed to vehicles to allow riders to partake in this fundraising ride.

The Queensway from Sherway Gardens Road to The West Mall will be closed from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. According to organizers, northbound lanes on The West Mall will also be closed from The Queensway to West Mall Crescent, with the northbound curb lane closed between West Mall Crescent and Bloor St. W. Southbound traffic will still get through. 

Meanwhile, the westbound curb lane on Bloor St. W. will be closed from The West Mall to the Mississauga border. 

St. Clair Avenue West  

The lively Portugal Day Parade is taking place this weekend in a completely new location. Due to scheduling conflicts with Do West Fest (which always runs on Dundas Street West), organizers have relocated to St. Clair West this year.

This means Saturday, June 13, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., St. Clair Avenue West will be fully closed from Robina Avenue to Old Weston Road.

Oakwood Avenue from Rogers Road to St. Clair Avenue West, and Caledonia Park Road from St. Clair Avenue West to Davenport Road will also be closed to vehicles in order to accommodate the parade.

There are pros and cons to Toronto being one of the 16 host cities for the FIFA World Cup. While bars and streets will be crowded and buzzing with passionately loud soccer fans, the event does come with one unexpected perk: no planned subway shutdowns for once.