By Doug Draper, Niagara At Large
May seem hard to believe or maybe not for the 20-something bunch out there, but it was 50 years ago in 1963, that the fourth and most recent bridge crossing the Niagara River between Canada and the United States – the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge – was opened.
The Lewiston-Queenston or the Queenston-Lewiston, call it what you want, it was the last bridge built across the Niagara River between two neighbours.
This September 19th, Canadian and American dignitaries will be celebrating that anniversary in what has been described by bridge authorities as a “private ceremony for regional dignatiaries and border operators..” This private celebration follows, in case we all missed it a large fireworks display over the Horseshoe Falls in nearby Niagara Falls, Ontario and New York that apparently had something to do with remembering the opening of the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge or, by the way, the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, whichever side of the border you are on and whichever way you want to look at it.
Whichever way you want to look at it, this bridge is among the heaviest border crossing points – within the top five, as I understand it – between Canada and the United States anywhere along our long border. And it is the last bridge built on this border, which means something given that any plans to twin the Peace Bridge crossing between Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York seem almost hopeless.
So here is to the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge or the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, or whatever you want to call it, as possibly the last bridge opened, 50 years ago this month, over the Niagara River stretch of the Canada-U.S. border.
Niagara At Large would now like to share with you a piece from the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission on the history of this bridge, then you cross in with your comments.
LEWISTON, NY/QUEENSTON, ON – On Thursday, September 19th, 2013, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (NFBC) will host a commemorative binational ceremony to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.
Officially opened in 1963, the bridge sits 370 feet above the Niagara River and measures 1,600 feet long, while featuring five reversible lanes that connect Canada and the United States between the historic heritage towns of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, and Lewiston, New York. The Lewiston-Queenston Bridge serves the 5th highest volume of Can-Am commercial traffic, with millions of dollars in commerce crossing over the bridge each hour, representing thousands of trade and tourism-related jobs. The bridge is also the preferred border crossing for local residents and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who shop, stay, and play in the Niagara region every year.
“The Lewiston-Queenston Bridge is so much more than just steel and concrete. It’s a safe, efficient passageway between the world’s two greatest nations,” said NFBC Chairperson Thomas Pryce. “This span is open to all, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and it has helped protect our borders, grow our economies, and connect our countries — for 50 years.”
To formally mark the anniversary occasion, local dignitaries and NFBC representatives are scheduled to gather in Lewiston with Consul General of Canada in New York John Prato
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and Consul General of the United States in Toronto Jim Dickmeyer for a private, ceremonial luncheon and discussion regarding important cross-border issues. Topics will include the rise of trusted travel program usage, new border management technologies, and Beyond the Border Accord’s status and overall implementation. The luncheon is set to conclude with a reading of the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge 50th Anniversary joint-commendation offered by Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne, Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, Consul General Prato and Consul General Dickmeyer.
Earlier this year, a celebratory website was launched at http://www.nfbc75.com to commemorate the Lewiston-Queenston 50th Anniversary and corresponding NFBC 75th Anniversary. Lewiston-Queenston Bridge 50th Anniversary t-shirts were also issued and put on sale to the public in support of select regional food banks in August, and an art-deco designed poster was created for the crossing. An enhanced public fireworks display was coordinated through the Niagara Parks Commission on August 23rd over the Horseshoe Falls with thousands of spectators taking part. Several “interesting historic facts” about the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge have been made available to the public and local media outlets on a weekly basis, and an expansive watercolor painting of the span by artist Paul Hanover will be formally unveiled later this fall.
“To acknowledge this golden anniversary, the NFBC came up with a series of exciting public events and activities intended to generate enthusiasm and appreciation for this important regional milestone,” said NFBC Vice Chairperson Ernest K. Smith.
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