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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 \u2014 the local name for the civic holiday that falls on the first Monday of August. <\/p>\n
Here’s a general list to check before you head out.<\/p>\n
Ironman closures<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785407713_522_default.jpg\")
Road closures will be in effect across the downtown core for Ottawa’s Ironman Triathlon. (City of Ottawa)<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
These major roads will be impacted by the event:<\/p>\n
Kichi Z\u012bb\u012b M\u012bkan.Island Park Drive.Carling Avenue.Wellington Street.Colonel By Drive.Mackenzie Avenue.Sussex Drive.Sir George-\u00c9tienne Cartier Parkway,Queen Elizabeth Driveway.Prince of Wales Drive.National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway (through the Central Experimental Farm).Arboretum Roadway.<\/p>\n
All but one of the bridges across the Ottawa River will be closed at some point for the race. <\/p>\n
The Alexandra Bridge will remain closed from 6 a.m. Saturday until 6 a.m. Monday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Champlain and Chaudi\u00e8re 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.<\/p>\n
Also of note, the Pretoria Bridge over the Rideau Canal will be closed from 6 a.m. Sunday until midnight Monday.<\/p>\n
OC Transpo routes will be detoured<\/a> to avoid the race. <\/p>\n WATCH | Some of the scenes from last year’s race: Ottawa’s first Ironman brings thousands to the city<\/p>\n Thousands of athletes competed in what many hope will be a fixture for years to come.Colonel By Day: Getting around<\/p>\n On the holiday Monday, OC Transpo buses will run on a Saturday schedule.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Regular or recurring Para Transpo trips will be cancelled but can be rebooked.<\/p>\n City services<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Multi-residential garbage will be picked up.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785407713_416_default.jpg\")
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![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785407714_738_default.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785407715_141_default.jpg\")
A duck bobs among the swimmers at Westboro Beach in Ottawa on July 8, 2026. (Justin Tang\/The Canadian Press)Shopping<\/p>\n