Canada Games Traffic Impacts
The City of St. John’s is excited to host the 2025 Canada Games! With events unfolding city-wide and visitors arriving from across the country, it's important to stay informed on traffic impacts.
To avoid delays, residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to arrange a ride with friends or family, use taxis or ride-sharing services, or use public transit. If choosing to drive, arriving early is strongly recommended, as motorists should expect delays, road closures, and limited parking availability.
Access for emergency vehicles, local residents and businesses will be maintained.
Below is an outline of advisories by area, as well as information about public transit. You can click the links below to jump to each section:
The City of St. John's apologizes for any inconvenience. For more details or to report an issue, contact Access St. John’s by calling 311 or (709) 754-CITY (2489), email access@stjohns.ca or submit an inquiry online.
Downtown Area
Friday, August 1
Times: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Event: Torch Relay
The 2025 Canada Games Torch Relay will begin at the Orange Store at 694 Water Street and end with a community celebration in Bannerman Park. To facilitate this event, the following roads will be subject to rolling closures during the above-noted times:
- Water Street (Blackhead Road to Temperance Street)
- Quidi Vidi Road
- Forest Road (Quidi Vidi Road to Lakeview Avenue)
- Lakeview Avenue
- Clancey Drive
- Carnell Drive
- The Boulevard (Carnell Drive to King's Bridge Road)
- King's Bridge Road (The Boulevard to Circular Road)
- Circular Road (King's Bridge Road to Bannerman Road)
- Bannerman Road
The RNC will provide traffic control during the closure. Please adhere to all signage and direction from personnel.
Saturday, August 9
Times: 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Event: Opening Ceremonies
Road Closures
The following roads will be closed during the above-noted times:
- New Gower Street (Waldegrave Street/Barter’s Hill to Duckworth Street)
- Queen's Road (City Hall Parking Garage to Long's Hill)
- Adelaide Street (Water Street to New Gower Street)
- Water Street eastbound (Waldegrave Street to Adelaide Street)
- Queen Street
- George Street (Queen Street to Adelaide Street)
- Duckworth Street (westbound diverted to Church Hill)
- Water Street (Adelaide Street to Prescott Street)
No Parking (Tow Away) Zones
Please note that vehicles parked at the below locations from 12 to 11 p.m. will be ticketed and/or towed:
- New Gower Street (Waldegrave Street/Barter’s Hill to Duckworth Street)
- Adelaide Street
- Queen Street
- George Street (Queen Street to Adelaide Street)
Parking
The City Hall parking garage will not be available for public parking. Motorists can use on-street parking or paid privately owned parking garages and lots.
Accessible parking will be available in the St. John's Convention Centre parking lot, accessed via Waldegrave Street. To learn more about other accessible parking spaces, refer to our accessible parking map.
Saturday, August 16
Times: 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Event: Criterium Cycling
Road Closures
The following roads will be closed during the above-noted times:
- Water Street (Adelaide Street to St. John's Lane)
- Harbour Drive (Bishop's Cove to Job's Cove)
- George Street (Adelaide Street to Water Street)
- Beck's Cove
- Ayre's Cove
- Clifts Baird's Cove
- Prescott Street (Duckworth Street to Water Street)
No Parking (Tow Away) Zones
Please note that vehicles parked at the below locations from 4 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. will be ticketed and/or towed:
- Water Street (Adelaide Street to Prescott Street)
- Harbour Drive (Bishop's Cove to Job's Cove)
- Beck's Cove
- Ayre's Cove
- Clifts Baird's Cove
Parking
Public parking is available in the City Hall parking garage, through on-street parking or paid privately owned parking garages and lots.
Accessible parking will be available on Adelaide Street. To learn more about other accessible parking spaces, refer to our accessible parking map.
Sunday, August 24
Times: 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Event: Closing Ceremonies
Road Closures
The following roads will be closed during the above-noted times:
- New Gower Street (Waldegrave Street/Barter’s Hill to Duckworth Street)
- Queen's Road (City Hall Parking Garage to Long's Hill)
- Adelaide Street (Water Street to New Gower Street)
- Water Street eastbound (Waldegrave Street to Adelaide Street)
- Queen Street
- George Street (Queen Street to Adelaide Street)
- Duckworth Street (westbound diverted to Church Hill)
- Water Street (Adelaide Street to Prescott Street)
No Parking (Tow Away) Zones
Please note that vehicles parked at the below locations from 12 to 11 p.m. will be ticketed and/or towed:
- New Gower Street (Waldegrave Street/Barter’s Hill to Duckworth Street)
- Adelaide Street
- Queen Street
- George Street (Queen Street to Adelaide Street)
Parking
The City Hall parking garage will not be available for public parking. Motorists can use on-street parking or paid privately owned parking garages and lots.
Accessible parking will be available in the St. John's Convention Centre parking lot, accessed via Waldegrave Street. To learn more about other accessible parking spaces, refer to our accessible parking map.
Quidi Vidi Lake Area
Wednesday, August 6 to Sunday, August 17
Event: Canoe and Kayak
Road Closures
The following roads will be closed at all times from August 6 to 17:
- Clancey Drive (Lake Avenue to Lakeview Avenue)
- Lakeview Avenue (Clancey Drive to Forest Road)
Access will be maintained for local residents and the Quidi Vidi Boathouse via Lakeview Avenue.
Parking
Limited parking will be available on the lakeside of the Dominion parking lot and gravel lots around Quidi Vidi Lake.
Additional accessible parking spots will be added to the Dominion parking lot.
Team Gushue Highway Area
Sunday, August 10
Times: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Event: Cycling Time Trials
Road Closures
The following roads will be closed during the above-noted times:
- Team Gushue Highway (Topsail Road to Goldstone Street), including all access points
- George’s Pond Road (Blackmarsh Road to Team Gushue Highway)
- Brier Avenue (New Pennywell Road to Team Gushue Highway)
Additionally, Kelsey Drive/Goldstone Street will have lane reductions near the Team Gushue Highway overpass. Two-lane traffic will be maintained.
Monday, August 11
Times: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Event: Cycling
Road Closures
The following roads will be closed during the above-noted times:
- Team Gushue Highway (Topsail Road to Goldstone Street), including all access points
- George’s Pond Road (Blackmarsh Road to Team Gushue Highway)
- Brier Avenue (New Pennywell Road to Team Gushue Highway)
Additionally, Kelsey Drive/Goldstone Street will have lane reductions near the Team Gushue Highway overpass. Two-lane traffic will be maintained.
Public Transportation
From August 10 to 16 and August 18 to 24, Metrobus will operate Route 34 every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., providing service to several Canada Games venues across the city. During the Games, anyone with 2025 Canada Games accreditation or a ticket can ride Metrobus for free.
Visit Metrobus.com to learn more about route modifications during the Canada Games.
Stay in Touch
Sign up to receive information from the City of St. John's directly to your inbox. Check out the various categories of general news, and emergency notifications.
