All clear for Niagara traffic, no lanes closed on Burlington Skyway for two weekends

A combination of complaints, political pressure and weather conditions will keep traffic flowing across the Burlington Skyway for the next two weekends.

Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has updated its construction schedule for Niagara-bound lanes on the bridge which should help lower the anxiety levels of motorists who rely on the route.

This means lanes will be fully open on the long weekend.

The MTO says expected rain is the official reason for postponing construction this weekend.

The lane closures have drawn a lot of attention since the shutdowns began at the beginning of this summer as commuters waited in traffic jams during rush hour on Friday nights and vacationers were left frustrated with delays in getting to the Falls and the U.S. border.

These concerns were picked up by Niagara political leaders who complained that hotels and restaurants were suffering as Toronto-area tourists were avoiding weekend visits. Premier Doug Ford then stepped in to get the MTO to change its construction schedule to late-night work.

Ford said the closures and construction are necessary to make repairs on the aging bridge.

After the two-week break, construction and lane closures will resume on August 11 and continue on August 18 and August 25. On these occasions, Friday nights, the lanes will close at 10 p.m. and reopen the next morning.

Meanwhile, the continuing overhaul of the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge will lead to slowdowns through the area on Eastport Dr. until early next year.

During the construction work, three of the four lanes will be closed. The one remaining lane will open for alternating traffic with signalers or traffic lights.

The lift bridge will remain open for cyclists and pedestrians during this period and marine traffic will not be affected, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).