March 21, 2015 – OTTAWA (Canada) – The National Arts Centre wishes to advise all patrons that they may face challenges getting to, and parking nearby, the NAC during Ottawa Race Weekend, May 23-24. Tens of thousands of people will converge on the downtown core during the weekend, some roads will be closed, and parking may be difficult to find.

Because of road closures and the predicted high volume of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, we urge all NAC patrons to ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME to get to the NAC and/or find a parking spot, whether in the NAC parking garage or elsewhere.

NAC PARKING GARAGE

The National Arts Centre underground parking garage will be open both days. Please bear in mind that it is a public garage and parking spaces are filled on a first come-first served basis. A ticket to an NAC performance does not guarantee a parking spot in the NAC garage. Patrons may experience significant delays in entering or exiting the NAC garage during Ottawa Race Weekend. Parking entrances are located on Elgin St. at the corner of Slater St. and on Albert St.

Below is a list of road closures, the Ottawa Race Weekend schedule, a schedule of performances at the National Arts Centre, and a list of alternate parking possibilities.

ROAD CLOSURES – SATURDAY, MAY 23

• Laurier Ave. (Nicholas St. to Elgin St.) 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• Elgin St. (Laurier Ave. to Frank St.) 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
• Elgin St., both directions (from Laurier Ave. to Queen Street) 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. (cross traffic allowed before and after race starts)
• Queen Elizabeth Dr., Pretoria to NAC closed all weekend
• Traffic exiting NAC parking garage after matinees shows will have to be directed to Albert Street exit only.
• Traffic exiting NAC parking garage after evening performances will proceed as usual.
• See runottawa.ca for a full list of road closure

ROAD CLOSURES – SUNDAY, MAY 24

• Laurier Ave. (Nicholas St. to Elgin St.) 5 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Elgin St., both directions (from Laurier Ave. to Queen Street) 5 a.m. – 10 a.m. (cross traffic allowed before and after race starts)
• Queen Elizabeth Dr. (Pretoria to NAC) 5 a.m. – 3:30 pm, and from Somerset Street west to NAC closed until 6 pm.
• Both Chaudière and Alexandria bridges closed
• See runottawa.ca for a full list of road closure

RACE SCHEDULE – SATURDAY, MAY 23

TIME                EVENT                         LOCATION

3:00 p.m.          Ottawa 2K                     Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin

4:00 p.m.          HTG Sports Ottawa 5K  Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin

6:30 p.m.          Ottawa 10K                   Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin

 

RACE SCHEDULE – SUNDAY, MAY 24

TIME                EVENT                                                             LOCATION

6:55 a.m.          Scotiabank Ottawa Wheelchair Marathon            Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin

7:00 a.m.          Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon                             Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin

8:00 a.m.          Scotiabank Ottawa Kids Marathon for CHEO      Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin

9:00 a.m.          Scotiabank Ottawa Half-Marathon                      Corner of Laurier Ave and Elgin

 

NAC SCHEDULE – SATURDAY, MAY 23

TIME                EVENT                                                             LOCATION

10:00 a.m.         Dance Masterclass with Jean-Philippe Malaty     Rehearsal Hall B

1:30 p.m.          Terrier                                                               Studio

7:30 p.m.          Les aiguilles et l’opium                                       Theatre

8:00 p.m.          Aspen Santa Fe Ballet                                       Southam Hall

 

NAC SCHEDULE – SUNDAY, MAY 24

TIME                EVENT                         LOCATION

1:30 p.m.          Terrier                           Studio

3:30 p.m.          Terrier                           Studio

 

ALTERNATE PARKING

• Capital Parking                     
  84 Gloucester St. (between O’Connor St. and Metcalfe St.)
  120 Gloucester St. (between Bank St. and O’Connor St.)
• Chateau Laurier Hotel
  1 Rideau St., entrances from Rideau St. and MacKenzie St.
• Clarica Life Insurance Co.
  99 Bank St., entrance at 123 Queen St. (between Bank St. and O’Connor St.)
• Impark                       
  200-280 Metcalfe St. (between Gilmour St. and MacLaren St.)
  150 Albert St. (between O’Connor St. and Metcalfe St.) under the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel
  145 O'Connor St. (L’Esplanade Laurier between Gloucester St. and Laurier St.)
  99 Gloucester St. (between O’Connor St. and Metcalfe St.)
• Constitution Square, 320 - 360 Albert St. (between Lyon St. and Kent St.), entrance on Slater St.
  320 Queen St. (between Kent St. and Bank St.)
• World Exchange Plaza: 45 O’Connor St., entrance at the corner of Albert St. and Metcalfe St.
• Gilad Parking
  265 Laurier Ave. (between Bank St. and O’Connor St.)
• Ottawa City Hall
  111 Lisgar St., entrance on Nepean St. east of Elgin St.
• Place Bell
  160 Elgin St., entrances on Gloucester St. and Nepean St. (between Metcalfe St. and Elgin St.)
• Place De Ville
  320 Queen St. (between Kent St. and Bank St.), entrances from Queen St. or Albert St.
• Rideau Centre
  entrances on Daly Ave. (between Colonel By Drive and Nicholas St.) and on Nicholas St.
• Vinci Park      
  130 Slater St. (between O'Connor St. and Metcalfe St.)
  199 Slater St. (between Bank St. and O’Connor St.)
  88 Metcalfe St. (corner of Slater St. and Metcalfe St.)
  261 Somerset St. (corner of Somerset St. and Metcalfe St.)
  260 MacLaren St. (between O’Connor St. and Metcalfe St.)
• L’Esplanade Laurier, 300 Laurier St. W., entrance on Gloucester St.
  41 George St. across from The Bay in the Byward Market

For additional information, visit the NAC website at nac-cna.ca or the Ottawa Race Weekend website at runottawa.ca.