The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shut down a portion of Highway 401 Thursday to ensure “the safety of all” given the “significant congestion” Boxing Day drivers were causing.
The OPP warned of the delays in a post on X at 8:03 a.m., which detailed a serious backlog at the Highway 401 westbound exit to Trafalgar Road in Halton Hills. Toronto Premium Outlets, a large outdoor shopping centre, is located just off the exit.
In a traffic-camera image accompanying the post, a row of illuminated taillights from several vehicles can be seen, with stopped cars taking up at least one lane of highway beyond the off-ramp. The OPP did not say when the photo was taken.
“Shoppers are advised to use the Winston Churchill Blvd exit as an alternative to ensure a safe and smooth shopping journey,” the OPP said in the post.
“As a reminder, the HTA (Highway Traffic Act) does not permit pedestrians to walk on controlled access highways, including off-ramps.”
Shoppers commuting to Toronto Premium Outlets on Boxing Day cause traffic delays on Highway 401 near Trafalgar Road in Halton Hills.
OPP via X
The OPP added members of its Mississauga detachment would be “proactively monitoring” the area throughout the day.
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At 1:29 p.m., the OPP said in a post on X it closed the offramp until further notice for “the safety of all.”
“Please consider using Winston Churchill Blvd or James Snow Pkwy to reach your destination,” it said.
An OPP cruiser sits as traffic builds up on the Highway 401 Trafalgar off-ramp Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. The OPP says it has shut the offramp for “the safety of all” amid a Boxing Day backlog that has caused “significant congestion” along the stretch of highway.
OPP via X
Toronto Premium Outlets is just one of the many shopping centres open throughout the Toronto area on Boxing Day.
Observed on the day after Christmas in Commonwealth countries, it is a statutory holiday in Ontario and for federally regulated employees across Canada.
No one knows for sure when Boxing Day started, but some believe it was centuries ago when servants would be given the day off after Christmas for rest. Others trace it back to the Roman practice of collecting money in boxes.
In modern times, Boxing Day has evolved into a day of relaxation and indulgence — and shopping. It is filled with sporting events, and is often a day when people open their homes to family and friends to celebrate the holidays.
— with files from The Associated Press
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