Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is preparing to expand the Garden City Skyway over the Welland Canal, a move that is expected to ease traffic on the busy highway in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region.
The expansion will include the construction of a new four-lane bridge carrying Toronto-bound traffic and a rehabilitation project to replace the existing bridge, which carries Niagara-bound traffic.
The new bridge will be longer than the existing one, making room for the two lanes of traffic. Each bridge will have four lanes, with the Toronto-bound traffic lane and the Niagara-bound traffic lane alternating.
“This expansion is a critical part of our plan to reduce gridlock and improve transportation infrastructure in the Greater Golden Horseshoe,” Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, said in a statement last Friday (April 5). “The new bridge will provide a more direct link between St. Catharines and Niagara Region, making it easier for people to travel and providing a crucial link between Ontario’s international border crossings and the Greater Golden Horseshoe.”
The construction work is expected to begin soon and will take several years to complete. It is part of the province’s plan to improve transportation infrastructure in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region and make it easier for people to travel between St. Catharines and Niagara Region.
“The Garden City Skyway expansion is a major investment in our province’s transportation infrastructure,” said St. Catherines Mayor Mat Siscoe. “This project will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, making it easier for people to get around our city and the region.”
The population of the Greater Golden Horseshoe region is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, with the number of people expected to reach 15 million by 2051. This growth is being fuelled by a number of factors, including population growth, increased immigration and investment in the area.
The expansion of the Garden City Skyway is expected to accommodate the increase in traffic that is expected to occur as the population grows. The new bridge will provide a more direct link between St. Catharines and Niagara Region, making it easier for people to travel and providing a crucial link between Ontario’s international border crossings and the Greater Golden Horseshoe.