Two lanes of traffic along Yonge Street will be closed to vehicles and opened up to pedestrians as part of a month-long pilot project, starting Aug. 17.
Celebrate Yonge Street will see lanes of traffic along the major downtown artery turned into sidewalks, from Queen Street to Gerrard Street.
Vehicular traffic will be reduced to one lane from two, in each direction, between Gerrard and Queen Streets.
The pedestrian walkways will feature outdoor patios, public art, special events and promotional deals from local retailers throughout the month-long project.
City councilor Kristyn Wong-Tam and the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area produced this pilot project for Ward 27.
Wong-Tam has been pushing for Yonge Street to be turned into more of a pedestrian-friendly street. The pilot project will determine the impact of reducing vehicular traffic in the downtown core.
Celebrate Yonge Street runs until Sept. 16.
This festival coincides with other events in September, including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Canadian National Exhibition.
