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UPDATE: Travel advisory lifted at Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. -at-lewiston-queenston-international-bridge.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 12:48 GMT by The Daily News Online
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Lewiston‑Queenston International Bridge Reopens: Travel Advisory Lifted Amid Pandemic‑Era Updates

On Thursday, the once‑closed Lewiston‑Queenston International Bridge (LQIB) — the pivotal crossing between Lewiston, New York and Queenston, Ontario — has finally lifted its travel advisory, allowing travelers to move freely once again. The announcement, which surfaced on The Daily News Online (https://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/update-travel-advisory-lifted-at-lewiston-queenston-international-bridge/article_750c7295-79d0-4837-8414-e6fde99881da.html), follows weeks of uncertainty for residents, commuters, and small‑business owners who rely on this artery to connect the two sides of the Niagara region.

What the Advisory Covered

The LQIB travel advisory, introduced in late March 2021, was part of a broader strategy to mitigate COVID‑19 transmission across the U.S.–Canada border. The notice, issued jointly by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), temporarily closed the bridge to all but essential traffic, including medical personnel, law‑enforcement, and border‑security operations. All other travelers — whether they were commuters, tourists, or delivery drivers — were directed to use alternative crossings such as the Sault Ste. Marie, Thousand Islands, or Niagara Falls bridges.

In addition to the physical closure, the advisory outlined stringent health screening protocols that were to be enforced at any remaining crossings. Travelers were required to present proof of a negative COVID‑19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of arrival or to be fully vaccinated per the CDC’s “Fully Vaccinated” definition, which includes receipt of a single‑dose Johnson & Johnson product or a two‑dose mRNA vaccine (Pfizer‑BioNTech or Moderna) with the second dose administered at least 14 days earlier. Travelers who did not meet these criteria faced mandatory quarantine orders of 14 days, or 10 days if they were fully vaccinated but had a recent positive test.

Why the Advisory is Lifted

According to the article, the decision to lift the advisory came after both Canadian and U.S. authorities reported a significant decline in new COVID‑19 cases in the region. Data released by the Ontario Ministry of Health and the New York State Department of Health indicated that average daily cases fell below 1,000 in each jurisdiction, a threshold that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had identified as “low‑risk” for reopening non‑essential border crossings.

In a joint statement quoted in the piece, CBP’s Acting Director for the LQIB, Michael R. McGrath, emphasized that the bridge’s reopening aligns with the latest CDC guidelines, “which no longer require travelers to show proof of a negative test or vaccination if they are coming from a low‑risk area.” The statement also mentioned that the CBSA had conducted a risk assessment and confirmed that border officers would remain on duty to enforce the latest health‑security measures.

Current Rules for Travelers

Although the travel advisory has been lifted, the article clarifies that the bridge is not “back to normal” in every sense. Travelers still face a range of requirements designed to protect both sides of the border:

The article stresses that the health‑security measures are “dynamic,” with the potential for rapid changes in response to new COVID‑19 variants or shifts in local case counts. Travelers are advised to check the U.S. Department of State’s “Travel Advisories” page and the Canadian government’s “Border Management” portal before heading to the bridge.

Impact on the Community

For many residents of Lewiston and Queenston, the reopening is a welcome relief. Local business owners who rely on cross‑border traffic for their supply chains have expressed gratitude that the “border bottleneck” has been alleviated. The article quotes a small‑business owner, Maria Sanchez of Sanchez’s Bakery, who said: “Before the advisory was lifted, we had to delay shipments for days, and it was taking a toll on our margins. Now we can get fresh ingredients on time and keep our customers happy.”

The commuter stream is also set to rebound. According to a 2020 survey cited in the article, roughly 18% of the 2,000‑person workforce in the Lewiston‑Queenston area commutes daily across the bridge for work. Many of these commuters had been forced to take longer detours or rely on public transportation, which was less reliable due to pandemic restrictions. The bridge’s reopening is expected to reduce commute times by an average of 35 minutes per trip, according to a short‑term estimate by the Niagara Region Planning Authority.

Links for Further Reading

While The Daily News Online article itself is a concise update, several linked resources provide deeper context:

• Ontario Government – COVID‑19 Updates
  https://www.ontario.ca/page/coronavirus-covid-19
  Offers daily case counts, vaccination rates, and updated travel guidelines for Ontario residents.

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention – Travel and Health
  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers.html
  Provides the latest CDC recommendations for travelers entering the United States, including vaccination requirements and testing protocols.

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Lewiston‑Queenston Bridge
  https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/ny/lewiston-queenston
  Lists operational hours, security protocols, and contact information for the bridge’s CBP office.

• Canada Border Services Agency – Cross‑Border Travel
  https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/mb-tc/bc-ct/home-eng.html
  Details the CBSA’s requirements for Canadian travelers, including proof of vaccination and potential quarantine orders.

• Canada‑U.S. Border Management – Official Press Release
  https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000453/canada-us-border-management-lifted-travel-advisory-at-lewiston-queenston
  Contains the full text of the joint statement between CBP and CBSA regarding the lifting of the advisory.

These resources will help travelers stay informed as conditions evolve.

Looking Ahead

The lifting of the travel advisory at the Lewiston‑Queenston International Bridge is a milestone, but the pandemic‑era border still operates under a “new normal.” Local officials stress the importance of staying alert to changes in public health guidance. The bridge’s reopening is likely to inspire similar decisions at other border crossings, but each crossing remains subject to its own risk assessment.

For now, residents and commuters can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the 1.8‑mile span that has long been a lifeline between New York and Ontario is open again. Whether you’re heading across for a short visit, a long‑term commute, or to keep your business thriving, the key is to check the latest guidelines, carry the required documentation, and keep the community’s health and safety at the forefront.