The Ontario government has issued a Request for Proposals to advance the expansion of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) Garden City Skyway bridge.
The Garden City Skyway expansion includes construction of a new four-lane, 2.2-kilometre bridge across the Welland Canal, as well as the rehabilitation and full deck replacement of the current bridge. Once complete, each bridge will have four lanes with the new bridge carrying Toronto-bound traffic and the upgraded existing bridge carrying Niagara-bound traffic.
“The Request for Proposals is an important step on the path to expanding the Garden City Skyway," says St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe. “The City of St. Catharines is looking forward to the completion of this project and the economic growth that will accompany it.”
Garden City Skyway Twinning Project
With the projected increases in population and jobs throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe in the coming years, the Garden City skyway twinning project will allow people and goods to travel more freely through Niagara.
The Greater Golden Horseshoe sees $1.16 trillion in goods transported annually on its highways, including the Ontario QEW. On average, 106,000 vehicles cross the Garden City Skyway bridge daily.
By 2051, the Greater Golden Horseshoe’s population is estimated to grow from 10 million to almost 15 million people. Over the same period, the region’s employment figures will grow from almost five million to seven million jobs. The population in St. Catharines, Niagara's provincially-designated Urban Growth Centre, is expected to grow to more than 165,000 by 2041.
The twinning of the Garden City Skyway will improve the movement of goods and people and alleviate traffic congestion. A smoother flow of traffic means reduced travel times, lower transportation costs and a more reliable supply chain.
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