Sunday Promises Traffic Chaos In And Out Of Town

It’s almost the season to be merry, but even as St. Nick himself prepares to cruise Toronto streets, roads in and out of the city and those stretching all the way to the U.S. border are likely to be packed with drivers who are anything but.

Sunday morning marks the 102nd annual Santa Claus Parade, which begins at Christie and Bloor at 12:30pm and winds down University Ave. towards the waterfront, closing one of the city’s main north/south routes until around 4:30pm.

But that’s hardly all. The Toronto Argonauts will be taking on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at the Rogers Centre for the right to play in the Grey Cup the following weekend, and right next door the Toronto Raptors will be hosting the Golden State Warriors for a Sunday NBA matinee. Combined the two sporting events alone should draw about 70,000 people.

Naturally, all the ruckus and revelry promises to snarl traffic in the downtown core, which is why if you don’t have to take your car into the city it’s advisable to opt for public transit. As an added incentive, the TTC is offering a $9 unlimited one-day pass for up to six people attending the parade, but if you absolutely have to drive check out our list of road closures and alternate routes.

Meanwhile, if all that wasn’t enough, people trying to get out of town to avoid the chaos and maybe get a little jump on their holiday shopping by heading to the U.S. are likely to experience wait times at the border upwards of three hours long, causing some to wonder whether such trips are even worth the time.

If you are considering driving to the U.S., here’s some information to consult before heading out:

Niagara Falls Bridge Commission: 1-800-715-6722
Peace Bridge Web Cam 1
Peace Bridge Web Cam 2

Border Wait Times

Canada
U.S.
Niagara Bridge Commission

And to see Marianne Dimain‘s story on Sunday’s traffic and Omar Sachedina‘s on the preparations for the Santa Claus Parade, click on the video link.