Special highway lane restrictions could cause Pan Am–demonium in 2015

We expected playing host to the second-largest multi-sport extravaganza in the world would create a few headaches, but this is still pretty remarkable. The Toronto Star is reporting that organizers of the 2015 Pan American Games are considering reserving lanes on major Toronto roads “for athlete and official use only.” The plans are still being hammered out, but the Star’s sources say that the 401, 427, QEW, DVP and Gardiner could each have two lanes removed (one in each direction). The other option on the table is to make use of the shoulder, which, apparently, is not just for ambulances and cops anymore. Councillor and noted car lover Denzil Minnan-Wong is concerned by the proposal, with good reason. With Toronto pining away for the day it can shut down the whole city for a Stanley Cup parade, choking its highways for three and a half weeks for the Olympics Lite is just too much to bear. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »