Originally Posted by
alexb133
Its best to listen to the radio or check out the border line up reports on both the CBP and CBSA websites.
I've personally had luck at Queenston/Lewiston most often.
I have not taken the Whirlpool Bridge ever (reserved for NEXUS), anybody care to share any positive experiences?
Whirlpool is the most civilized crossing experience out there. Even the US are nicer.
For non-NEXUS, I almost think its worth going out of the way for Rainbow.
Originally Posted by
tentseller
It only applicable if all passengers in the vehicle are NEXUS holders which rules it out when I am with the family.
You need to get through a seedier part of town of Niagara Falls NY; on the Canadian side you are deposited onto Niagara Parkway, the single lane tourist route which is quite a slow drive to 420 or 405.
If all the passengers are NEXUS card holders then Queenston/Lewiston is just as fast with the new plaza with access to NEXUS lane even with traffic backed up.
Remember that there is no NEXUS lane into the US on Q-L. I will say that it is actually faster going into Canada, and the toll costs the same with NEXUS, as you get to drive at full highway speeds all the way till the bridge, and its direct.
I did the L-Q Nexus for the first time this week. It was quick as traffic was light. I deposited a declaration card. At the booth, the guy said "What do you have to declare?....Oops - you deposited a card - just go ahead". So if you don't deposit a declaration card you can obviously now make a verbal declaration.
Whirpool Bridge Route - Don't use the Niagara Parkway. From the QEW exit at Thorold Stone Road and stay on it as it curves and becomes Stanley Avenue. Turn left at next light (Bridge Street), which ends at the bridge by the VIA station (turn right and then go to the entrance. Reverse this to get to the QEW from the bridge - about 10 minutes.
Connection to I-190 in US. After crossing, turn right then left onto NY 182. Carefully follow the signs for NY 182, which meets I-190 at Porter Road. You can stay on 182 to Niagara Falls Boulevard and then follow that road (NY62) for an easy trip to the Buffalo suburbs. To the bridge simply get to NY 182 (exit I-190 Porter Road) and follow it to the bridge. The direct entrance via Ontario Street is currently closed so you wind up one block south. Traffic on I-190 to the LQ often backs up very far so you can't get to the Nexus booth. If there is any chance, exit at Porter Road and go for the Whirlpool. It is overall about 15 minutes longer if there is no traffic on the L-Q but there always seems to be traffic. No more Nexus booth at the Rainbow Bridge so don't bother.
Last part is only partially correct. The Canada-bound NEXUS lane closed, but the US-bound NEXUS lane is still open at Rainbow. The trade off is that Q-L has a Canada-bound NEXUS lane, while the US has not opened one. It makes sense, as the Rainbow and Whirlpool are so close to each other.
Now, your directions regarding the Whirlpool are spot on. As many times as I've crossed that bridge, I still find the following:
1) It seems much less complicated for me to find the 190 FROM the Whirlpool than it does finding the Whirlpool from the 190. I always either get lost or am confused by the not-so-great directions Google Maps gives me on my phone. OTOH, it is a breeze to get there doing the Ontario to Hyde Park to Porter route on the way to BUF.
2) If I know I will make it to Q-L by 7 pm, I take that now. Otherwise, I head over to Whirlpool in what seems like a different manner each time.
3) Its really easy on the Canadian side. I don't know why anyone would take the Niagara Parkway or any route other than Thorold Stone Road. As you said, it curves around, becomes Stanley and the name "Bridge Street" is a nice first clue that you are close. I think there is also a sign at the intersection. When you are entering Canada, you make a left turn across Niagara Parkway onto Bridge Street, then right on Stanley, which curves onto Thorold Stone. Pass the various car dealerships and the QEW is there very quickly. I think 10 minutes is a very long estimate for how long it takes. Its more like 5.
The other good thing about the Thorold Stone route is that it deposits you just on the Niagara Falls side of the QEW-405 split. That is way up the road from Rainbow and certainly from Ft. Erie and it seems a shorter haul than the 405 is to the QEW.
Note that the Canadians ask basically nothing besides "Anything to declare" at the Whirlpool. Over Q-L, I've had them quickly ask the regular immigration-type questions, which is annoying. The US isn't so nice. Despite my being a US citizen, I remember twice where I was waved through or asked for just a declaration. They basically always ask the same garbage they do at regular crossings.