QEW lane closures set to disrupt travel across the Greater Toronto Area

Motorists travelling along the Queen Elizabeth Way between the Greater Toronto Area and Niagara are being warned to expect significant delays this weekend, as a partial closure of the Burlington Bay Skyway is set to reduce capacity and disrupt traffic flow for more than two days.

The Niagara-bound lanes of the QEW Skyway will be impacted from Saturday, June 27 at 1 a.m. until Monday, June 29 at 5 a.m., as crews carry out scheduled work that will temporarily reshape traffic patterns across one of the region’s busiest commuter and travel corridors.

During the closure period, one middle lane (lane 3 of 4) on the Skyway Bridge will be shut down continuously, while two lanes of through traffic will remain open. Lane widths in the work zone will be narrowed, with “Narrow Lane” signage in place to guide motorists through the reduced corridor.

Although the highway will remain open, the reduced capacity is expected to create bottlenecks, particularly during peak travel times, affecting drivers heading from across the GTA toward Niagara Falls and surrounding destinations.

Access to the Skyway will also be temporarily altered via the Eastport Drive collector system. One lane connection to the Burlington Skyway will remain available through this route, but the Eastport Drive/collector ramp will face intermittent closures, including from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Saturday and again from 8 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday to allow for barrier relocation work. All ramps at the Northshore Boulevard interchange will remain open, and Eastport Drive itself will stay accessible as an alternate re-entry route to the Niagara-bound QEW.

Transportation officials are encouraging travellers heading toward Niagara Falls to consider alternatives where possible, including rail service. Riders are being advised that GO Transit service may help avoid congestion and delays associated with construction-related slowdowns, with schedules available online prior to travel.

While the work is expected to be completed by early Monday morning, officials note that all lane and ramp closures remain weather dependent and subject to change, meaning drivers should prepare for possible adjustments or extended delays if conditions shift.

With the QEW serving as a primary link between the GTA and Niagara region, even partial restrictions on the Skyway are expected to ripple across weekend traffic patterns, particularly for holiday travellers, day-trippers, and commercial vehicles moving through the corridor.