Ministry of Transportation ‘reviewing collision history’ of QEW in Fort Erie

The province is considering adding safety barriers to a stretch of the QEW in Fort Erie.

In an emailed statement, Tanya Blazina, a senior media relations staffer with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), confirmed the ministry is reviewing the collision history of the stretch of highway.

“The ministry understands the importance of ensuring the safety of all road users on provincial highways–including the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW),” Blazina said.

“The ministry is planning to review the collision history along this specific stretch of the QEW to determine if the implementation of a barrier system could enhance the safety and efficiency of the highway operations.”

The review comes after Councillor Nick Dubanow put forth a motion at a June council meeting calling on the MTO to consider adding some kind of safety barrier. Both he and Councillor Tom Lewis recounted firsthand experiences where a crossover incident nearly caused serious catastrophe.

“I rolled over three times on the QEW and narrowly missed being hit by an oncoming vehicle going in the opposite direction,” Lewis said, recalling his incident from several years ago.

For Dubanow, his near-miss was over Christmas around 2013 when his son was about one year old. The family was driving north along the QEW when a car crossed over right in front of him. He said if it had not been for the sight of an OPP officer that led to Dubanow slowing down slightly, the car could have easily collided with his, with his wife and son as passengers.

“I’m worried we could find ourselves a day where something really terrible happens on that highway,” he said.

The motion referenced upgrades that happened to nearly every section of the QEW except for the stretch that goes through Fort Erie, along with the residential, industrial and commercial growth that has happened resulting in increased amounts of highway traffic.

It also points out that other less significant highways in the province have had guide rails installed.

And if the stretch isn’t going to get a full upgrade in the near future, Dubanow said it’s time “to seriously look at some guide rails on the left shoulder to prevent those crossovers from happening.”

With a review taking place, Blazina’s statement didn’t go much further into details.

“Following the review, the ministry will take appropriate actions where required,” she said.

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