11,000 motorists will be affected when the DVP and the Gardiner are shut down for the bike riding component of the Ironman triathlon in July 2012!

The Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway will close for a triathlon July 22, city council has decided.

The expressways are needed to stage the 40-kilometre bike ride of the Ironman event, which also includes a 10-kilometre off-road run and 1.5-kilometre Lake Ontario swim.

About 1,000 athletes are expected to participate.

Council was told that 11,000 motorists will be affected because that’s the normal traffic level during the 10-hour period on Sunday, July 22.

Council voted 29-9 to accommodate the event.

Are you okay with the closure, or do you think there could be a less inconvenient place to have the Ironman race?