The closure of the Gardiner Expressway is expected to make travelling in and out of the Toronto area a tricky proposition this weekend.

The Gardiner closed at 4 a.m. Saturday from the Don Valley Parkway all the way west to the Humber River, and will remain closed until 5 a.m. Monday.

The closure of the expressway for spring cleaning and road maintenance is a major disruption to Toronto traffic, but Toronto's director of traffic management, Robert Sopnicki, said it's unavoidable.

"It carries 160,000 cars per day," said Sopnicki. "Whenever we close it there's going to be disruption. There's never a good time to close the expressway."

This weekend is no exception, with two Toronto Blue Jays games scheduled at the Rogers Centre and a Girl Guide convention expected to draw thousands at Ontario Place, two locations right on the expressway's doorstep.

Drivers in the city have their preferred routes for when the expressway closes, with some looking for routes north to the 401 or other major streets that cut through the city.

Staff Sgt. Brian Bowman, who has been with Toronto police for 29 years, recommends having a few alternative routes planned — and a map handy.

"Bloor [Avenue] is a good route that should be less travelled," said Bowman. "Coming down it might seem like you're going out of your way but you could save some real time because you're not stopped in traffic."