Major road closures are set to impact Ottawa this weekend as the city prepares for the 2026 Ottawa Race Weekend and the 40th Great Glebe Garage Sale. These events bring together thousands of participants and visitors, prompting city officials to implement significant traffic measures.
Overview of Road Closures
The Ottawa Race Weekend typically sees over 30,000 runners competing in various events scheduled across Saturday and Sunday. Road closures in downtown Ottawa will begin on Saturday at 11 a.m., affecting key locations:
- Laurier Avenue between Metcalfe and Nicholas streets
- Elgin Street northbound between Lisgar and Slater streets
- O’Connor Street and Wellington Street in parts
These restrictions mainly influence Centretown and extend south to Dows Lake, with some closures in place until 9 p.m. on Saturday. A detailed map of the routes for the kids’ 2K, 5K, and 10K races is available on the Ottawa Race Weekend website.
Sunday Traffic Management
On Sunday, closures will begin even earlier, starting at 5 a.m. Streets around Ottawa City Hall will close first, followed by wider area restrictions by 9 a.m. Roads affected include:
- Island Park Drive
- Manor Park
- Hog’s Back Park
By 1:30 p.m., most closures will contract back to roads along the Rideau Canal, with many openings by 3 p.m.
Great Glebe Garage Sale Restrictions
In conjunction with the Race Weekend, the Great Glebe Garage Sale will also take place on Saturday. To enhance safety and manage traffic congestion, several road closures and parking restrictions will be imposed:
- Road closures on Second and Fourth avenues between Lyon and O’Connor from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Potential closures on Glebe, First, and Third avenues depending on traffic conditions.
- Access restrictions along Bank Street between Glebe and Fourth avenues, although local traffic will retain access via Lyon and O’Connor.
No-stopping parking restrictions will also be enforced from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Street closures include Glebe, First, Second, Third, and Fourth avenues between Lyon and O’Connor, though residents with parking permits will still be allowed to park as usual.
For a complete list of specific road closures and to plan ahead, visitors are encouraged to check the Ottawa Race Weekend website.
