Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) refers to a major highway located in the Canadian province of Ontario. Spanning a distance of approximately 139 kilometers (86 miles), it runs between the city of Toronto and the city of Fort Erie, near the US border at the Niagara River. The QEW is a crucial transportation artery, serving as a primary route for both commuters and commercial traffic.
The highway was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth, who later became known as the Queen Mother. Construction of the QEW began in the late 1930s and was completed in 1940, making it one of the earliest controlled-access highways in North America. It was initially designed to alleviate traffic congestion and improve travel times between Toronto and the Niagara Peninsula. Over the years, the QEW has undergone numerous expansions and improvements to accommodate increasing volumes of vehicles.
The Queen Elizabeth Way encompasses multiple lanes, with sections of the highway being divided and offering separate carriageways for eastbound and westbound traffic. It passes through several municipalities, including Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls. The highway provides access to various tourist destinations, such as Niagara Falls, wineries, and recreational areas along Lake Ontario.
As a vital transportation route, the Queen Elizabeth Way plays a crucial role in supporting economic activity and facilitating trade between Canada and the United States. It serves as a major gateway for goods moving across the border, connecting the industrial heartland of Ontario with key transportation corridors in the northeastern United States.
