There is going to be a festival atmosphere in Vancouver this weekend, as The Vancouver Sun Run and Vaisakhi parade will draw tens of thousands of participants and spectators into the city.
Citing those huge crowds, organizers of both events are advising travellers to take transit if possible, as there will be heavy traffic congestion.
Up to 100,000 people are expected to watch the Vaisakhi parade on Saturday morning, and even more will likely cram into the city for the 32nd annual Sun Run on Sunday morning.
Vaisakhi is an annual Sikh festival held every April. Another parade will be held next weekend in Surrey. Vancouver’s parade starts at 11 a.m. by the Khalsa Diman Society Temple at 8000 Ross St. Traffic will be affected west down Marine Drive and north on Main Street, east at 49th Avenue, south on Fraser, then east on 57th.
On Sunday, there will be road closures around the city from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Here is a complete list of road closures:
Downtown Vancouver Area-Georgia Street
Seymour Street to Bute Street: 5 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Bute to the Causeway (including all streets crossing Georgia): 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
Lions Gate Bridge, access from Pender only: 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
Howe to Burrard from Dunsmuir to Robson: 5 a.m.-11 a.m.
Denman Street – Georgia to Robson: 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
Robson Street – west of Denman Street to Stanley Park: 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
Stanley Park
Beach Avenue, Stanley Park to Hornby Street: 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Stanley Park Drive at North Lagoon Drive: 6 a.m.-11 a.m.
Ryan Road at Park Lane/South Lagoon Drive: 6 a.m.-11 a.m.
Pacific Street
Burrard Street to Hornby (eastbound lanes): 6 a.m.-noon
The Bridges
Burrard Bridge — closed to all traffic: 8 a.m.-noon
Cambie Bridge — closed to all northbound traffic: 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Kitsilano
West 2nd Avenue-Burrard Street to Fir Street: 8:30 a.m.-noon
Fir Street — West 2nd Avenue to West 4th Avenue: 8:30 a.m.-noon
West 4th Avenue/West 6th Avenue – Pine Street to Cambie Street: 8:30 a.m.-noon
Cambie Street at West Broadway — closed to all northbound traffic: 7:30 a.m.-noon
Pacific Boulevard
East bound exit ramp from Cambie Bridge: 5 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Nelson Street to Abbott Street: 5 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Abbott Street to Quebec Street: 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Quebec, Abbott & Carrall Streets
Closed to all traffic near Expo Boulevard and Pacific Boulevard: 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
Expo Boulevard
From Quebec to Terry Fox Way: 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nelson Street, from Expo to Pacific: 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
Sun Run organizers are encouraging runners and spectators to take transit to the race. For transit routes and disruptions visit http://www.translink.ca
