IRONMAN Canada-Ottawa returns on Sunday, August 2

Road closures, transit impacts and fly-pasts for the event

IRONMAN returns again this summer, transforming Ottawa’s streets into a racecourse on Sunday, August 2.

The IRONMAN Canada-Ottawa event will start at 6 am with a 3.8-kilometre swim at Britannia Beach followed by a 180-kilometre bike ride through local neighbourhoods. It will wrap up with a 42.2-kilometre run around Parliament Hill. Participants have 17 hours to complete the event – a full day of adrenaline!

Visit Ottawa Tourism for more information on where to watch the race and for more frequently asked questions.

Traffic impacts

Check the City’s online traffic map for updates on traffic impacts throughout the event. Select “Special Events” to see roads currently affected. You can also follow the City of Ottawa’s traffic account on X.

For the full race schedule and more information on related events and activities, visit IRONMAN Canada-Ottawa.

Early and extended closures

Some roads and bridges will be closed for a longer period to facilitate the event:

• Alexandra Bridge will be closed in both directions from 6 am on Sunday, August 2 to 6 am on Monday, August 3.
• Wellington Street’s eastbound lane will be closed between the southbound and northbound lanes of Elgin Street starting at midnight on Sunday, August 2. The eastbound lane will reopen once participants complete this section of the course.
• Mackenzie Avenue will be closed between Murray and Rideau streets on Saturday, August 1 between 7:30 and 9:30 am for the IRONKIDS event.

Closures on Sunday, August 2

Road closures are expected to start as early as 3 am on Sunday, August 2. Roads will be reopened to traffic once participants complete that section of the course. Some roads may be closed until approximately 1 am on Monday, August 3.

Major roads impacted by the event include:

• Kichi Zībī Mīkan
• Island Park Drive
• Carling Avenue
• Wellington Street
• Colonel By Drive
• Mackenzie Avenue
• Sussex Drive
• Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway
• Queen Elizabeth Drive
• Prince of Wales Drive
• National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway
• Arboretum Roadway

Bridges impacted by the event include:

• Alexandra Bridge, in both directions, from 6 am on August 1 to 6 am on August 3
• Champlain Bridge, in both directions, from 6 to 11 am on August 2
• Chaudière Bridge, in both directions, from 6 to 11 am on August 2
• Portage Bridge, southbound direction, from 5 to 11 am on August 2 and northbound direction from 5 am to 4 pm on August 2
• Pretoria Bridge, in both directions, from 6 am on August 2 to midnight on August 3

Take a closer look at the racecourse through the interactive map on RacePoint.

OC Transpo

Some OC Transpo bus routes will be detoured due to road closures related to the event. Check OC Transpo’s alerts page for the latest detour information and allow extra time for your travels.

Taking in the action? Great spectator spots across the city can be reached by O-Train or bus, with the IRONMAN Village in Major’s Hill Park located just a short walk from Rideau Station.

For more information or to plan your trip, visit octranspo.com or call 613-560-5000. You can also connect with OC Transpo through Facebook, Bluesky, X, and Instagram.

Fly-pasts

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is scheduled to perform two fly-pasts during the IRONMAN Canada-Ottawa event:

• Friday, July 31 at 6 pm over Major’s Hill Park during the opening ceremony
• Sunday, August 2 at 6 am over Britannia Beach at the start of the race