G8 and G20 meetings in Toronto

[BugR]

Toronto is going to be a mess, traffic is pretty bad as it is but it looks like the downtown is going on lock down cutting or restricting a couple of key freeways.

I highly recommend that you completely avoid the area if you can i.e. cross at 1000 islands if you are coming up from the US or stay on 17 if you are coming over the lakes.

Chris

 

[bramfrank]

Or, just come up the 87 or 89 and cross south of Montreal

 

[canucklehead-biker]

Thanks for the reminder Chris, I'd completely forgotten about the G8/G20. Like I needed another reason to avoid T.O....

If you HAVE to get from one end of Ontario to another (which I'll have to do since the Fearless Pillion will be in Montreal) and time is a factor (when isn't it?), there really aren't a ton of alternatives to the 401 through Toronto, unfortunately. Gonna have to suck it up, leave REALLY early in the morning and hope I can sneak through before the traffic gets completely stupid.

Griff

 

[bramfrank]

Thanks for the reminder Chris, I'd completely forgotten about the G8/G20. Like I needed another reason to avoid T.O....
If you HAVE to get from one end of Ontario to another (which I'll have to do since the Fearless Pillion will be in Montreal) and time is a factor (when isn't it?), there really aren't a ton of alternatives to the 401 through Toronto, unfortunately. Gonna have to suck it up, leave REALLY early in the morning and hope I can sneak through before the traffic gets completely stupid.

Griff

If you're riding in from Calgary, Toronto is well out of your way to the South.

Even if you are coming in by way of Detroit, you can easily come up on the south side of Lake Ontario and catch 81 through Watertown or keep heading east and catch the 87 (or cross-country it) heading up via Montreal.

 

[canucklehead-biker]

Thanks for the reminder Chris, I'd completely forgotten about the G8/G20. Like I needed another reason to avoid T.O....
If you HAVE to get from one end of Ontario to another (which I'll have to do since the Fearless Pillion will be in Montreal) and time is a factor (when isn't it?), there really aren't a ton of alternatives to the 401 through Toronto, unfortunately. Gonna have to suck it up, leave REALLY early in the morning and hope I can sneak through before the traffic gets completely stupid.

Griff

If you're riding in from Calgary, Toronto is well out of your way to the South.

Even if you are coming in by way of Detroit, you can easily come up on the south side of Lake Ontario and catch 81 through Watertown or keep heading east and catch the 87 (or cross-country it) heading up via Montreal.

Yeah... unfortunately I have a family commitment in London, ON... so I'm pretty much stuck on the north side of the lakes for the last part of the run. I'd MUCH rather go around to the south.

Griff

 

[bramfrank]

If you're in London, then you are almost ideally placed to go under Lake Ontario - cross over at St. Catharines/Niagara and go East from there.

It is about 720 km from London to Montreal using the 401.

It is about 820 to go below the lake. Take the NY Throughway to Syracuse and then head back up on the 81 through the thousand Islands via Watertown or you can split on to highway 11 there and stay in the US, saving some distance all the way to Cornwall or even Plattsburgh, though it is a 2 lane (which I'd take almost anytime over a slab).

 

[FJRPierre]

Avoid the Cornwall border crossing into Canada because that new "temp" crossing is a mess, due to the natives not allowing armed border guards on their territory and the feds relocating to a tiny area at the base of the bridge!

 

[bramfrank]

I crossed there 2 weeks ago. I thought for a moment as we rolled through the old toll and inspection booths that they weren't going to stop us at all - but obviously came upon the new toll booths and customs when we got onto the mainland.

Still there was no wait - on a week-end, no less. I suppose if they wanted to inspect, pulling us over it would have been interesting.

I would personally suggest to the natives that if they won't let the status quo remain, perhaps we should block access for them - after all, they get $8 billion a year in 'aid' and continually flaunt Canadian and US law, PLUS they whine and complain about how their ancestors were taken advantage of. My personal feeling is that MY ancestors were persecuted and no one in paying ME off, so why are we paying them?

Seems to me that WE'RE the ones being taken advantege of.

 

[FJRPierre]

We crossed there May two four Monday in the early afternoon and had 45 wait in the heat on the bridge, but at least it was coasting downhill B)

 

[bramfrank]

We crossed there May two four Monday in the early afternoon and had 45 wait in the heat on the bridge, but at least it was coasting downhill B)

Yeah, the Monday of a long week-end. You should have crossed at Covey Hill because I assure you that everything was just as backed up as the bridge at Cornwall on that day.

 

[Nosecone]

How about crossing Saturday at Sarnia then 402/401 to over night at Cambridge. Sunday rout north from Cambridge on

two laners to pick up 400 north of Toronto to Orillia then north east to Renfrew. Monday go north to 117 then southeast

to Mont-Tremblant. (For Petey and I)

 

[FJRPierre]

The main traffic snarl seems to be from Jun 24 -27 in and around Toronto

g20 Toronto restrictions

G*8 Huntsville

...The public should expect closures and restrictions on the highways in and around Toronto on Thursday June 24th to Sunday June 27th due to G20 security operations. These measures will have a significant impact on traffic flow on the Gardiner Expressway, QEW, Highway 427 and Highway 401, the DVP and connecting arterial roads. In addition, people living, working or traveling to and from Lester B. Pearson International Airport, should expect significant traffic delays. Motorists should expect delays and should avoid these routes during the identified periods if possible. The use of public transit is strongly reccomended during that time. Signs will be posted along the highway corridors to advise motorists of the closures, restrictions and the anticipated significant delays.

These closures will affect inbound traffic into Toronto on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and outbound traffic on Sunday.

 

[yamafitter]

This is why I decided to live on the 'correct' (east) side of Toronto so I don't have to deal with that mess when I head north.

The only reason I would go through Toronto would be to go to Buffalo and why in the world would I be doing THAT :blink:

 

[Bungie]

The only reason I would go through Toronto would be to go to Buffalo and why in the world would I be doing THAT :blink:

So you can giggle at Ton-a-wanda!

Any of you far wester's need a place to conk and your near Sudbury, please don't hesitate to call.

 

[canucklehead-biker]

Based on the info Pierre posted, it won't be a factor on the ride to CFR, but may impact the departure on the 24th. In any case... we can deal with it

Launch tomorrow!

Griff

 

[huron52]

How about crossing Saturday at Sarnia then 402/401 to over night at Cambridge. Sunday rout north from Cambridge ontwo laners to pick up 400 north of Toronto to Orillia then north east to Renfrew. Monday go north to 117 then southeast

to Mont-Tremblant. (For Petey and I)

I am going to say.... yes that might work..... just don't get to close to Huntsville heading North....That's where the G8 is.

We are cutting across at Orillia. Hopefully that will not be a nightmare. From there you will be heading away from the G's

 

[ice_station_zebra]

How about crossing Saturday at Sarnia then 402/401 to over night at Cambridge. Sunday rout north from Cambridge ontwo laners to pick up 400 north of Toronto to Orillia then north east to Renfrew. Monday go north to 117 then southeast

to Mont-Tremblant. (For Petey and I)

I am going to say.... yes that might work..... just don't get to close to Huntsville heading North....That's where the G8 is.

We are cutting across at Orillia. Hopefully that will not be a nightmare. From there you will be heading away from the G's

Check it out if you plan to head east on 45 from Orillia to Norland...there's been a big detour for bridge work at Sebright that will take you considerably out of your way.

 

[huron52]

Check it out if you plan to head east on 45 from Orillia to Norland...there's been a big detour for bridge work at Sebright that will take you considerably out of your way.

I did and thanks.....re-routing around that area!

 

[Checkswrecks]

The main traffic snarl seems to be from Jun 24 -27 in and around Toronto
g20 Toronto restrictions

G*8 Huntsville

...The public should expect closures and restrictions on the highways in and around Toronto on Thursday June 24th to Sunday June 27th due to G20 security operations. These measures will have a significant impact on traffic flow on the Gardiner Expressway, QEW, Highway 427 and Highway 401, the DVP and connecting arterial roads. In addition, people living, working or traveling to and from Lester B. Pearson International Airport, should expect significant traffic delays. Motorists should expect delays and should avoid these routes during the identified periods if possible. The use of public transit is strongly reccomended during that time. Signs will be posted along the highway corridors to advise motorists of the closures, restrictions and the anticipated significant delays.

These closures will affect inbound traffic into Toronto on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and outbound traffic on Sunday.

First off, we in DC REALLY appreciate it being you folks who host one of these. They can be a massive pain. It's not just the traffic, add in the blocked routes for a bit before the motorcades pass, police taking up the curb lanes, TV & press vehicles, protestors, and lookie-loo gawkers.

The up-side is that these messes get pretty predictable for avoidance. Figure not to go within a few blocks of the financial area during daylight, their routes in & out at commuting hours, & you're generally good. Night time is usually not a problem, but remember that all those extra people are going to eat & sleep somewhere close. The radio for news & traffic will be your best friend.