Motorists will likely want to avoid parts of Toronto this weekend, as thousands of people are set to take over certain streets for an annual marathon Sunday.

More than 24,000 runners and walkers, plus thousands of spectators, are descending on the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which acts as a fundraiser for almost 170 local and national charities.

For a list of alternate routes follow this link.

To ease congestion, motorists are being urged to avoid the marathon route and people are asked to take public transit.

At an official kickoff event Friday, Mayor Rob Ford said this year’s event is better organized because roads will reopen sooner after runners pass through, meaning the inconvenience is minimized.

Most roads will reopen by 3 p.m. on Sunday.

In addition to a full marathon, a half marathon and 5K event are also being held.

The half and full marathons start on University Avenue, just south of Armoury Street, while the starting line for the 5K event is at Ontario Place.

All participants, regardless of the event, cross the finish line at Queen Street West and Bay Street at the southeast corner of Nathan Phillips Square.

The full marathon takes runners on a 42.2-kilometre route that includes parts of Bloor Street West, Bathurst Street, Lake Shore Boulevard, roads in the Port Lands, Queen Street East, Eastern Avenue and Front Street.

The following roads will be closed from Saturday at 12:01 a.m. to Sunday at 7 p.m.:

  • Bay Street, from Queen Street to Dundas Street
  • Hagerman Street, from Elizabeth Street to Bay Street
  • Elizabeth Street, from Hagerman Street to Dundas Street
  • Albert Street, from Bay Street to Court House Driveway
  • James Street, from Queen Street to Albert Street

The following roads are closed Sunday at various times:

  • University Avenue, from Front Street to Dundas Street (4 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
  • Armoury Street, from University Avenue to Chestnut Street (4 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
  • Chestnut Street, between Armoury Street and the Metropolitan Hotel (4 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
  • Bay Street, from Lake Shore Boulevard to Queen Street (4 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
  • Lake Shore Boulevard, from Windermere Avenue to Parliament Street (6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
  • Harbour Street, from Lower Simcoe Street to Bay Street (6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
  • Bay Street, between Lake Shore Boulevard and Queens Quay (6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
  • Eastbound Front Street, between Church and Jarvis streets (6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
  • Wellington Street, from Bay Street to Church Street (6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
  • Eastbound Queens Quay, between Bay and Parliament streets (7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
  • Cherry Street, from Lake Shore Boulevard to Clarke Beach Park (7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
  • Eastbound Commissioners Street, between Cherry and Leslie streets (7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
  • Leslie Street, from Lake Shore Boulevard to Unwin Avenue (7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
  • Lake Shore Boulevard, from Parliament Street to Woodbine Avenue (7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
  • Queen Street East, between Woodbine and Beech avenues (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
  • Northbound Coxwell Avenue, from Lake Shore Boulevard to Eastern Avenue (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
  • Eastern/Front Street, between Kingston Road and Jarvis Street (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
  • University Avenue/Queens Park, between Dundas and Bloor streets (8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.)
  • Wellesley Street, from Queens Park Crescent to Church Street (8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.)
  • Church Street, between Wellesley and Bloor streets (8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.)
  • Bloor Street, from Church Street to St. George Street (8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.)
  • St. George Street, between Bloor and College streets (8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.)
  • College Street, from St. George Street to Bathurst Street (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
  • Bathurst Street, from College Street to Lake Shore Boulevard (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
  • Westbound Fort York Boulevard, between Bathurst Street and Lake Shore Boulevard (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.)

Watch CP24 on Sunday for the latest information about the road closures.

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