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Here are some tips on how to avoid or beat traffic caused by road constructions, G20, G8, Molsen Indy, Toronto Pride, Caribana and accidents:
1. Check the traffic report on radio, tv or your computer before you leave the house.
2. Keep the radio on. There will be traffic reports every 10 minutes.
3. Monitor at least two radio stations for traffic reports.
4. Take in to account the direction you are travelling. If there is a major accident on the opposite side then depending on the accident it could still effect you.
5. The decision on when to get off the highway in case of congestion would depend on whether or not it is recurring or regular congestion. If it is recurring then you should stay on. Obviously this is the optimal route and side roads would likely be just as busy or worst. In case, this is an incident congestion you should take the exist. The side roads are likely less congested.
6. If a radio reporter tell you which entrance you should take back to the highway. Try to take the one after. This also applies to when you should get off the highway, ideally the exist before the recommended one.
7. Study the map. It helps to identify alternate routes.
8. If you have the money then it is definitely worth it to invest in a real-time GPS system or advanced traveler information service. Studies have shown it will reduce the risk of being late from 22% down to 8%.
9. Use a web enabled, hands free cell phone in the car. Bell Canada recently announced cellphone GPS service with traffic updates. According to Bell daily commuters spend on average 79 minutes on the road and the service would really help commuters.
10. Checkout TomTom app for iphone that give you real-time traffic information.
11. Canada NAvTEQ provide real-time traffic coverage in Canada now.
12. Beatthetraffic.com and traffic.tann.com are also good sources.
13. The best source is TRAVELLER’S ROAD INFORMATION PORTAL (TRIP) developed by Ministry of Transportation. The portal offers information on road closures, construction reports, traffic reports and more.
14. You can also check Toronto traffic cameras across the city
Note: The TRIP portal offers detail information on road closures and times :
HWY 400 Northbound [JANE ST - HWY 401] – Nightly maintenance
HWY 401 Eastbound Express [ALLEN RD - BAYVIEW AVE] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Collector [ISLINGTON AVE - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Collector [JANE ST - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Collector [WESTON RD - ISLINGTON AVE] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Express [DON VALLEY PKWY/HWY 404 - LESLIE ST] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Express [ISLINGTON AVE - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Express [JANE ST - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Express [LESLIE ST - BAYVIEW AVE] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Off Ramp(s) [HWY 400 All Ramps - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 404 BOTH DIRECTIONS Express and Collector [HWY 401 - AURORA RD] – Nightly maintenance
HWY 409 Eastbound [HWY 427 - MARTIN GROVE RD] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Eastbound [KIPLING AVE/BELFIELD AVE - HWY 401] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Eastbound [MARTIN GROVE RD - KIPLING AVE/BELFIELD AVE] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Eastbound Off Ramp(s) [MARTIN GROVE RD North & South & Westbound - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Eastbound On Ramp(s) [HWY 427 All Ramps - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Eastbound On Ramp(s) [KIPLING AVE/BELFIELD AVE Northbound - ] – Construction
HWY 409 Eastbound On Ramp(s) [MARTIN GROVE RD North & South & Eastbound - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Westbound [HWY 401 - KIPLING AVE/BELFIELD AVE] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Westbound [KIPLING AVE/BELFIELD AVE - SHAFT RD] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Westbound [SHAFT RD - HWY 427] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Westbound Off Ramp(s) [HWY 427 All Ramps - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Westbound Off Ramp(s) [KIPLING AVE/BELFIELD AVE North & South & Eastbound - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Westbound Off Ramp(s) [MARTIN GROVE RD North & South & Eastbound - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 409 Westbound On Ramp(s) [MARTIN GROVE RD North & Southbound - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 427 Northbound Collector [QUEENSWAY AVE - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 427 Northbound Express [BURNHAMTHORPE RD - HWY 401] – Construction
QEW (TORONTO TO BURL.) Toronto Bound [HWY 427 - EAST MALL] – Nightly construction
Planned Roadwork
HWY 401 BOTH DIRECTIONS Collector [ALLEN RD - ] – Maintenance
HWY 401 BOTH DIRECTIONS Express and Collector [HWY 400 - TRAFALGAR RD] – Daily maintenance
HWY 401 Eastbound Collector [ALLEN RD - AVENUE RD] – Maintenance
HWY 401 Eastbound Collector [HWY 400 - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Eastbound Express [ALLEN RD - AVENUE RD] – Maintenance
HWY 401 Eastbound Express [HWY 400 - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Eastbound Off Ramp(s) [PORT UNION RD All Ramps - ] – Maintenance
HWY 401 Westbound Collector [ISLINGTON AVE - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Collector [JANE ST - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Collector [WESTON RD - ISLINGTON AVE] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Express [ISLINGTON AVE - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Express [JANE ST - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 401 Westbound Off Ramp(s) [HWY 400 North & Westbound - ] – Nightly construction
HWY 404 BOTH DIRECTIONS Express [SHEPPARD AVE - GREEN LANE] – Maintenance
HWY 427 Northbound Collector [NORTH QUEEN ST - DUNDAS ST] – Maintenance
HWY 427 Northbound Express [DUNDAS ST - RATHBURN RD] – Construction
HWY 427 Northbound Express [NORTH QUEEN ST - DUNDAS ST] – Nightly construction
HWY 427 Northbound Express [QEW/GARDINER EXPWY - QUEENSWAY AVE] – Nightly construction
HWY 427 Northbound Express [RATHBURN RD - HWY 401] – Construction
HWY 427 Northbound On Ramp(s) [NORTH QUEEN ST All Ramps - DUNDAS ST] – Maintenance
HWY 427 Northbound Transfer Collector to Express [DUNDAS ST - BLOOR ST] – Nightly construction
HWY 427 Southbound Collector [BURNHAMTHORPE RD - DUNDAS ST] – Maintenance
