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Roads, businesses and other services will close this long weekend as Ottawa celebrates two events: the city’s second Ironman Triathlon on Sunday, and Colonel By Day — the local name for the civic holiday that falls on the first Monday of August.
Here’s a general list to check before you head out.
Ironman closures
The majority of road closures for the Ironman Triathlon will happen Sunday, but Mackenzie Avenue will also be closed between Murray and Rideau streets between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Saturday for the kids’ races.
Road closures will be in effect across the downtown core for Ottawa’s Ironman Triathlon. (City of Ottawa)
Closures on race day will start as early as 3 a.m., but most will begin at 6 a.m. Roads will be reopened to traffic only once the athletes clear each section, so some stretches are expected to remain closed until 1 a.m. Monday.
These major roads will be impacted by the event:
Kichi Zībī Mīkan.Island Park Drive.Carling Avenue.Wellington Street.Colonel By Drive.Mackenzie Avenue.Sussex Drive.Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway,Queen Elizabeth Driveway.Prince of Wales Drive.National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway (through the Central Experimental Farm).Arboretum Roadway.
All but one of the bridges across the Ottawa River will be closed at some point for the race.
The Alexandra Bridge will remain closed from 6 a.m. Saturday until 6 a.m. Monday.
The Portage Bridge will be closed in both directions between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday. After that, the southbound lanes will reopen but the northbound lanes toward Quebec will remain closed until 4 p.m.
The Champlain and Chaudière bridges will both be closed from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday. This means that for a few hours, the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge will be the only link between the provinces.
Also of note, the Pretoria Bridge over the Rideau Canal will be closed from 6 a.m. Sunday until midnight Monday.
OC Transpo routes will be detoured to avoid the race.
WATCH | Some of the scenes from last year’s race:
Ottawa’s first Ironman brings thousands to the city
Thousands of athletes competed in what many hope will be a fixture for years to come.Colonel By Day: Getting around
On the holiday Monday, OC Transpo buses will run on a Saturday schedule.
Line 1 of the O-Train will be on a reduced weekday schedule with trains every six minutes or so at peak periods. Lines 2 and 4 will stick to their their regular schedules.
Regular or recurring Para Transpo trips will be cancelled but can be rebooked.
City services
Curbside garbage and recycling will not be collected on Monday, nor will recycling or green bins from multi-unit residential buildings. Collection will be pushed back by one day all week.
Multi-residential garbage will be picked up.
The Trail Waste Facility Landfill is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed Monday, as are ServiceOttawa counters and phone lines, employment and social services offices and municipal child-care centres.
The Site harm reduction van runs from 5 to 11:30 p.m.
Two people pay for parking at an Ottawa meter in July 2026. Ottawa parking rules remain in place on the holiday Monday. (Cameron Mahler/CBC)Recreation
Many city recreation facilities will alter their hours on Monday. The city invites people to check their specific facility for the latest information.
Beaches, pools and splash pads will be open.
The National Gallery and the agriculture, aviation, history, nature, science and war museums are open.
The Ottawa Art Gallery will be closed Monday as usual.
A duck bobs among the swimmers at Westboro Beach in Ottawa on July 8, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)Shopping
Stores in certain areas of the city including the Glebe and ByWard Market can open Monday under the province’s Retail Business Holidays Act.
Many grocery stores will be open Monday, some with different hours.
Most LCBOs are closed, but some including Rideau at King Edward and Isabella, are open. Some Beer Stores will also be open.
The Rideau Centre and Tanger Outlets will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday.
St. Laurent and Billings Bridge shopping centres will be open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Bayshore Shopping Centre’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.