The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is advising all carriers and dispatchers to expect severe delays and major route disruptions in certain areas as Toronto hosts six matches for the FIFA World Cup. A strict municipal mobility plan will trigger 10-hour road closures, commercial vehicle restrictions, and heavy gridlock around the downtown waterfront, Exhibition Place, Liberty Village, and the Gardiner Expressway corridor.
Between June 12 and July 2, drivers should avoid the southwest downtown core entirely on game days, as closures begin five hours before kickoff and extend up to three hours after matches conclude.
Critical Match-Day Road Closures
Full Road Closures
Strachan Avenue
- Closed from Lake Shore Blvd. W. to East Liberty St.
- Exception: two east-side lanes between Lake Shore and Fleet remain open for parking access to the Enercare Centre.
Fleet Street
- Closed from Angelique St. to Strachan Ave.
- Closure remains for the duration of the tournament to support a temporary streetcar platform.
Dufferin Street
- Closed from Springhurst Ave. to Saskatchewan Rd.
- Only local traffic permitted between Springhurst and King St.
Lake Shore Blvd. W.
- Closed from Bathurst St. to British Columbia Rd.
- Traffic diverted to the Gardiner Expressway or King St. W.
Liberty Village – Local Traffic Only
The following streets will be restricted to local traffic only on match days:
- East Liberty St. E. (Dufferin → Strachan)
- Mowat Ave.
- Fraser Ave.
- Jefferson Ave.
- Atlantic Ave.
Fort York Area – Local Traffic Only
Access restricted to local traffic between Bathurst St. and Angelique St., including:
- Fleet St.
- Angelique St.
- Gzowski Blvd.
- Bastion St.
- Grand Magazine St.
- Iannuzzi St.
- Bruyeres Mews
- Sloping Sky Mews
Exhibition Place Closures (Tournament Duration)
- Ontario Drive – closed from Lake Shore Blvd. to Princes’ Blvd.
- Princes’ Blvd. – closed from Ontario Dr. to Manitoba Dr.
- PEI Circle – closed from Ontario Dr. to Princes’ Blvd.
- Lot 855 (Bandshell area) – closed for FIFA operations and setup.
Additional Match-Day Closures
The following are closed beginning roughly 5–6 hours before matches and lasting 3–4 hours after:
- British Columbia Dr.
- Saskatchewan Rd.
- Dufferin Bridge
Traffic Changes (Not Fully Closed)
- New Brunswick Way will operate as a two-way road between Lake Shore Blvd. and Princes’ Blvd. during match operations.
Note: High-Impact Dates and Closure Windows
Peak gridlock and full enforcement of the 10-hour closure windows will occur on the following dates:
- Friday, June 12: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Match starts at 3:00 p.m.)
- Wednesday, June 17: 2:00 p.m. to Midnight (Match starts at 7:00 p.m.)
- Saturday, June 20: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Match starts at 4:00 p.m.)
- Tuesday, June 23: 2:00 p.m. to Midnight (Match starts at 7:00 p.m.)
- Friday, June 26: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Match starts at 3:00 p.m.)
- Thursday, July 2: 2:00 p.m. to Midnight (Match starts at 7:00 p.m.)