Niagara-bound travellers in Ontario face another weekend of delays on QEW

Motorists heading to Niagara Falls and other popular destinations this weekend should plan for delays as another round of lane closures takes effect on the QEW Burlington Bay Skyway during one of the busiest summer travel periods of the year.

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation says the Niagara-bound bridge will be reduced to two through lanes beginning tonight (July 10) at 10 p.m., with restrictions remaining in place until Monday at 5 a.m. as crews continue a major rehabilitation project that has been underway since the spring of 2024.

One of the bridge’s four lanes will be closed throughout the weekend, while lane widths will also be reduced through the construction zone. One lane providing access to the Skyway via the Eastport Drive collector ramp will remain open. However, the collector ramp will close overnight from Friday to Saturday and again from Sunday to Monday to allow the temporary relocation of the barrier.

All ramps at the Northshore Boulevard interchange will remain open, and Eastport Drive will remain available as an alternate route for drivers re-entering the Niagara-bound QEW.

The latest closures are part of a long-term project to rehabilitate the 2.2-kilometre Niagara-bound Burlington Bay Skyway bridge and upgrade highway lighting in both directions of the QEW between Northshore Boulevard and south of the bridge.

Construction began in May 2024 and is expected to continue until December 2026, meaning motorists will continue to encounter periodic lane reductions and traffic disruptions for months to come.

Additional overnight lane closures are also scheduled early next week. From Monday night into Tuesday morning and again from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, three of the four Niagara-bound lanes on the bridge will be closed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The Ministry of Transportation notes that all construction schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change.

With heavy traffic expected on routes leading to Niagara Falls, wineries and other tourist attractions this weekend, officials are encouraging travellers to consider GO Transit as an alternative to driving in order to avoid construction-related congestion.