Editing Lewiston–Queenston Bridge

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox bridge
| bridge_name = Lewiston–Queenston Bridge
| image = Lewiston-Queenston Bridge from Niagara Gorge.jpg
| image_size=300px
| caption = The bridge as seen from Niagara Gorge.
| carries = 5 reversible lanes of {{jct|state=NY|I|190}} / {{jct|state=ON|ON|405}}
| crosses = [[Niagara River]]
| locale = [[Queenston, Ontario]] and [[Lewiston, New York]]
| maint = [[Niagara Falls Bridge Commission]]
| design = [[Arch bridge|Arch]]
| mainspan = {{convert|1000|ft|m|0}}<ref name=hb>{{cite web |url=http://www.highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=Lewiston-Queenston_Bridge |title=Lewiston-Queenston Bridge |date=10 December 2009 |website=HighestBridges.com |access-date=1 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521203258/http://www.highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=Lewiston-Queenston_Bridge |archive-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| length = {{convert|1594|ft|m|0}}
| width = {{convert|24|ft|m|0}}
| below = {{convert|370|ft|m|0}}<ref name=hb/>
| traffic = 10,406 AADT
| cost = $16 million <ref name=niagara>{{cite web |url=http://www.niagarafrontier.com/bridges.html#b13 |title=Bridges Over Niagara Falls |website=Niagarafrontier.com |access-date=2016-02-27}}</ref>
| open = {{start date and age|1962|Nov|1}}
| coordinates={{coord|43|9|11|N|79|2|40.03|W|display=inline,title}}
| toll = Canada-bound only:<br>$5.00 USD or $6.50 CAD per passenger vehicle<ref>{{cite web |title=Toll Cost & Vehicle Definitions |url=https://www.niagarafallsbridges.com/index.php/crossing-info/toll-cost-vehicle-definitions |access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>
| engineering = [[Hardesty & Hanover]]<ref name="AISC1">{{citation|author1=American Institute of Steel Construction|author1-link=American Institute of Steel Construction|title=Prize Bridges 1962|url=https://www.aisc.org/globalassets/nsba/prize-bridge-brochures/1962prizebridgebrochure.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831072521/https://www.aisc.org/globalassets/nsba/prize-bridge-brochures/1962prizebridgebrochure.pdf|archive-date=2021-08-31|access-date=2024-01-12}}</ref>
| fabricator = [[Bethlehem Steel]]<ref name="AISC1" />
|extra = {{Infobox port-of-entry | embed=yes
   |name=Lewiston–Queenston Border Crossing
   |image=Queenston_Border_Station.jpg
   |image_size=300px
   |image_caption=Canada Border Inspection Station at the Lewiston–Queenston Bridge
   |country=[[United States]]; [[Canada]]
   |location={{plainlist|
* '''''US Port:''''' 1 Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, [[Lewiston, New York]]  14092
*'''''Canadian Port:''''' Hwy 405, Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, [[Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario]]  L0S 1J0
}}
   |opened=1962
   | blankdetailstitle1 = US Phone
   | blankdetails1 = (716) 282-1500
   | blankdetailstitle2 = Canadian Phone
   | blankdetails2 = (905) 262-4010
   | blankdetailstitle3 = Hours
   | blankdetails3 = Open 24 hours
   | website=http://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/buffalo
   }}
}}

The '''Lewiston–Queenston Bridge''', also known as the '''Queenston–Lewiston Bridge''', is an [[arch bridge]] that crosses the [[Niagara River]] gorge just south of the [[Niagara Escarpment]]. The bridge was officially opened on November 1, 1962. It is an international bridge between the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. It connects [[Interstate 190 (New York)|Interstate 190]] in the town of [[Lewiston, New York|Lewiston]], [[New York (state)|New York]] to [[Ontario Highway 405|Highway 405]] in the community of [[Queenston, Ontario|Queenston]], [[Ontario]]. The Lewiston–Queenston Bridge is architecturally similar to the [[Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls)|Rainbow Bridge]] at nearby [[Niagara Falls]].

Customs plazas are located on both ends of the bridge, with tolls only being charged on entering Canada ($5.00 USD or $6.50 CAD per passenger automobile). The bridge accepts [[E-ZPass]] [[electronic toll collection]] and houses the second Canadian E-ZPass collection facility, after the nearby [[Peace Bridge]]. Also, two [[Duty-free shop|duty-free]] stores are located between the two plazas.

The bridge permits no pedestrians, but licensed taxi service is permitted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Which Bridge Do I Take? |url=http://www.niagarafallsbridges.com/index.php/crossing-info/which-bridge-do-i-take |website=Niagara Bridge Commission |access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref> The Lewiston–Queenston Bridge lacks expedited border clearance facilities for [[NEXUS]] and [[Free and Secure Trade|FAST]] card holders traveling from the United States into Canada, but does have a NEXUS lane for travel into the United States.

[[Gantry (road sign)|Gantries]] have lights indicating the direction of traffic as the lanes are reversible. Speed limit is posted in kilometres and miles per hour ({{Convert|15|mph|km/h|abbr=on|disp=or}} limit) along the bridge. Canadian and United States flags fly at the midpoint on the south side of the bridge.

==Border crossing and toll==
The crossing is the fourth-busiest on the [[Canada–United States border]], with delays of up to two hours.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} It is on the most direct route connecting the US Interstate system to [[Toronto]] and [[Detroit]].<ref name="clui">{{cite web |url=http://www.clui.org/section/united-divide-a-linear-portrait-usacanada-border-3 |title=Chapter 4: The Watery Boundary |website=United Divide: A Linear Portrait of the USA/Canada Border |publisher=The Center for Land Use Interpretation |date=Winter 2015}}</ref> Canada replaced its border inspection facilities in 2011. The United States announced plans in 2016 to spend {{USD|50 million}} to upgrade the primary inspection facilities.<ref name="BuffaloNews1">{{cite news |author1-last=Anderson |author1-first=Dale |author2-last=McCarthy|author2-first=Robert |title=U.S. side of Lewiston-Queenston Bridge to get $50 million upgrade |url=https://buffalonews.com/2016/01/19/u-s-side-of-lewiston-queenston-bridge-to-get-50-million-upgrade/ |access-date=22 February 2016 |newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]] |date=February 19, 2016}}</ref> Construction was completed in 2022. Both facilities are open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

The toll for use of the bridge is payable upon entering Canada only.

* Canada-bound:
** 10 customs booths for cars/RVs
** 5 customs booths for trucks
** Dedicated Bus Processing Lane
** parking area for trucks for inspections
** helipad
** 6 toll booths
* US-bound:
** 6 customs booths for cars/buses/RVs
** 3 customs booths for trucks
** parking area for trucks for inspections

Passenger vehicles pay a toll only when entering Canada from the US. The cost is $5.00 USD or $6.50 CAD, as of August 1, 2022, payable by cash or E-ZPass.

High mast lighting is used on the Canadian side, with regular light standards used for bridge and the US side.

==Previous suspension bridges==
[[Image:Queenston-Lewiston Bridge 1915a.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The Queenston-Lewiston suspension bridge, 1915.]]
The first Queenston-Lewiston Bridge was built in 1851 by engineer Edward Serrell and wrecked by wind in 1864 (or 1854<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.niagarafrontier.com/bridges.html#b13 |title=Bridges over Niagara Falls |website=Thunder Alley |date=May 2, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref>). Newspapers reported that bridge deck had been destroyed in February 1864 by wind which caused main deck to sway excessively due to earlier removal of stabilizing guy-wires by local authorities, however main suspension cables remained fully intact.<ref>Buffalo Courier 2-5-1864, page 3</ref> Some of the cables were still in place as late as 1895.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bridgemeister.com/bridge.php?bid=35 |website=Bridgemeister |title=1851 Lewiston-Queenston |access-date=2019-07-05}}</ref> The road deck span was about {{convert|841|–|849|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}. The suspension bridge design was unusual because the cables were attached to the cliff with only small towers. This made the road deck span shorter than the cable span of {{convert|1040|ft|m|0}}.

A second bridge called the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, a [[suspension bridge]] was later constructed. Located <!-- seven-tenths of a mile --> {{convert|7/10|mi|km|spell=in}} north of the current bridge, this suspension bridge was originally built near the present location of the [[Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls)|Rainbow Bridge]], and was moved to Queenston in 1898 by R.S. Buck and engineer L.L. Buck, after the completion of the Rainbow Bridge's predecessor, the [[Upper Steel Arch Bridge (Niagara Falls)|Upper Steel Arch Bridge]]. The suspension bridge was dismantled in 1963 after the current bridge was completed and opened.

[[File:Queenston Lewiston suspension bridge cable.jpg|left|thumb|A former suspension cable support in Lewiston for the old suspension bridge in July&nbsp;2016]]
Reminders of the earlier bridge are still visible in the area. First is two columns that lie within the [[Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park]]. Second is the original plaque, now located midspan alongside the road, right at the border between the two countries. The plaque is flanked by a US and a Canadian flag.

The supports are part of Owen Morrell's Omega, a steel sculpture and observation platform added in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.owenmorrel.com/work#/omega/ |title=Work: Omega |website=Owen Morrel Studios |access-date=2019-07-05}}</ref> Two columns remain on the Canadian side at the foot of York Street in a wooded area now known as York Park.

==Plane crash==
On December 1, 1961, while the bridge was under construction, an [[North American F-100 Super Sabre|F-100 fighter]] (variously reported as belonging to the [[United States Air Force]]<ref name="f100-globe">{{cite news| periodical=[[The Globe and Mail]]| location=Toronto| date=1961-12-02| title=Pilot Guides Blazing Jet Into Gorge| page=1}}</ref> or [[Air National Guard]]<ref name="f100-star">{{cite news| periodical=[[Toronto Star|Toronto Daily Star]]| date=1961-12-02| title=Jet Ablaze: Pilot Stays to Save City| page=52}}</ref>) caught fire just after taking off from a base near [[Niagara Falls, New York]].  To protect people in the city, the pilot steered it into the Niagara River gorge before safely [[ejection seat|ejecting]]; but this aimed it near the construction site.<ref name="f100-globe"/><ref name="f100-star"/> It passed not far over the heads of workers near the site, missed a construction crane by about {{convert|100|feet|m}}, and crashed into the gorge side about 600 feet beyond the bridge before falling into the river.<ref name="f100-globe"/>

==See also==
*[[List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in New York]]
*[[List of bridges in Canada]]
*[[List of bridges in the United States by height]]
*[[List of Canada–United States border crossings]]
*[[List of crossings of the Niagara River]]
*[[List of international bridges in North America]]
*{{Portal-inline|Engineering}}
*{{Portal-inline|New York (state)}}
*{{Portal-inline|Ontario}}
*{{Portal-inline|Transport}}

==References==
{{commons category|Lewiston–Queenston Bridge}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Structurae|id=20000546|title=Lewiston-Queenston Bridge (1962)}}
*[http://www.niagarafallsbridges.com/ Niagara Falls Bridge Commission]
*[http://www.nflibrary.ca/nfplindex/results.asp?action=browse&q=295&key=371 Images from the Niagara Historic Digital Collections]
*[http://niagaratraffic.ca/bridge/ Live Traffic Camera of Lewiston Queenston Bridge]
*[http://www.nflibrary.ca/nfplindex/results.asp?action=browse&q=349&key=85392 Lewiston Queenston Bridge Collection of Images] Niagara Falls Public Library (Ont.)
*{{HAER |survey=NY-552 |id=ny2407 |title=Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, Spanning Niagara River, Lewiston, Niagara County, NY |photos=1 |cap=1}}

{{Crossings navbox
|structure       = Bridges
|place           = [[Niagara River]]
|bridge          = Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
|bridge signs    = [[Image:Ontario 405.png|20px]] [[Image:I-190.svg|25px]]
|upstream        = [[Whirlpool Rapids Bridge]]
|upstream signs  = ''Amtrak''
|downstream      = [[Lake Ontario]]
|downstream signs =
}}
{{Niagara Falls}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewiston-Queenston Bridge}}
[[Category:1962 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Niagara-on-the-Lake]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1962]]
[[Category:Bridges in Niagara County, New York]]
[[Category:Bridges on the Interstate Highway System]]
[[Category:Bridges over the Niagara River]]
[[Category:Canada–United States border crossings]]
[[Category:Canada–United States bridges]]
[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Interstate 90]]
[[Category:Open-spandrel deck arch bridges in Canada]]
[[Category:Open-spandrel deck arch bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Road bridges in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Road bridges in Ontario]]
[[Category:Roads with a reversible lane]]
[[Category:Steel bridges in Canada]]
[[Category:Steel bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Toll bridges in Canada]]
[[Category:Toll bridges in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Tolled sections of Interstate Highways]]
[[Category:Transport in the Regional Municipality of Niagara]]