Complete Information on the Peace Bridge Border Crossing

Peace Bridge – Buffalo / Fort Erie – U.S. Baird Drive / Canadian Queen Elizabeth Way

The Peace Bridge is the 2nd most heavily used border crossing between the United States and Canada. It carries a great deal of commercial traffic, given its convenient link to destinations in both the U.S. and Canada. The bridge is over a mile long and has three 12 foot wide lanes. The center lane is reversible and can be assigned to serve the direction of peak traffic flow. It is close enough to the Rainbow Bridge, Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, and Lewiston-Queenstown Bridges that you can sometimes make a choice as to which bridge you want to use.

The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, which runs the bridge, likes to tout the Peace Bridge as consistently the fastest crossing with the lowest tolls in the region. User opinions seem to echo this. However, if you are a NEXUS holder, you may also want to consider the NEXUS-only Whirlpool Rapids Bridge.

Before heading to the border, be sure to review our pages on preparing for customs and prohibited items.

Current Traffic Conditions at Peace Bridge

Always check our page with real time weather, traffic, and border wait times to see current conditions for the Peace Bridge border crossing.

Peace Bridge Port Information

• Hours of Operation – This border crossing is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round.
  • Commercial Services are available only M-F with more limited hours. Call the border office for more information.
• This port has NEXUS lanes for entering the U.S. or Canada, and NEXUS is accepted as identification in all lanes. Nexus hours for the Peace Bridge are shown below.
  • The Canadian port is equipped with the NEXUS eGate, which allows allows border officers to remotely handle Canada-bound NEXUS members from inside a CBSA office through the use of radio-frequency identification and closed-circuit television.
• Once you have passed either the U.S. or Canadian ports, you are subject to a “no idling” policy. Drivers are required to shut off their engines when in the parking lots or duty free shopping areas. Commercial carriers can spend no more than 20 minutes parked in the U.S. duty free area.
• See our page Tolls for Bridges Along the U.S. Canada Border for toll rates for this and the other bridges in this area.

U.S. Port Configuration at Peace Bridge

A second United States NEXUS lane is operational during high peak volume and is indicated open when the lane indicator light is flashing yellow.

Canadian Peace Bridge Border Crossing Information

• The bridge has a dedicated NEXUS inspection lane – lane #1 – which is typically open 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. The lane stays open until 10 p.m. for Buffalo Sabres home games.
• A second and third NEXUS lane can be opened during heavy traffic periods such as special events, commute periods, and when there is heavy summer traffic.
• This border crossing is FAST equipped. Trucks traveling to the U.S. bypass the truck queue when staging is in place

NEXUS Hours

	Summer   May 1st - August 31st	Fall/Winter/Spring  September 1st - April 30th
CDA-bound* Mon – Fri	24 hours	24 hours
CDA-bound* Sat – Sun	24 hours	24 hours
U.S.-bound** Mon –  Sat	5:00 AM - 11:00 PM	5:00 AM - 11:00 PM
U.S.-bound**   Sun and Holidays	6:00 AM - 11:00 PM	6:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Traveler Tips for the Peace Bridge

• Here is a handy link to hotels in New York state and here is another link to hotels in Ontario Province on the Canadian side of the border.
• Traffic is heaviest May through September, with Friday being the most congested day of the week.
• The bridge is open to both pedestrians and cyclists, but make sure you bring your passports or other border crossing documentation. There are two six-foot-wide pedestrian sidewalks on either side of the bridge.
  • On the U.S. side, pedestrians and cyclists are processed to the left of the truck inspection area.
  • In Canada, pedestrians and cyclists are processed in an area on the right side of the inspection area for cars.
• The bridge uses E-ZPass system for electronic toll collection technology, which is faster and saves you 10% off the cash toll rate.
• We have seen reports that the backups on the Peace Bridge are at times so severe that drivers can’t can’t get to the Nexus booths.
• Buffalo Bills NFL football games increase cross-border traffic and therefore potential delays prior to game time. Travelers should be sure to leave time for traffic delays.
• Buffalo Sabre Hockey games can cause heavy traffic when the game lets out because approximately 20% of Sabre fans reside in Southern Ontario. NEXUS lane service hours are typically expanded to around midnight following all Sabres home games on the Peace Bridge.
• Duty free shops at Peace Bridge
  • The U.S. duty free shop is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is located at Peace Bridge Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14213. Telephone: (716) 886 – 5000.
  • The Canadian duty free shop is also open around the clock and is located at 1 Peace Bridge Plaza, Fort Erie, ON L2A 5N1, Canada. Telephone Number: 1-800-361-1302
• Roughly 10% of commercial traffic is referred to secondary inspection at this port.
• Peace Bridge GPS coordinates – Latitude & Longitude: 42.906932, -78.905759
• You can also get Ontario road information by phone by calling the following numbers: Provincial Call Centre: 1-800-268-4686, Toronto Area: 416-235-4686, Provincial TTY: 1-866-471-8929, Niagara Region TTY: 905-704-2426
• You can call 511 or 888-GO511NY (888-465-1169) in New York to get “almost” real time road conditions information.
• There are numerous overhead road signs that will alert you to bridge delays, and other road conditions. Depending on how far you are from the bridge, conditions can change substantially when you get there.
• AM radio station 1610 broadcasts when there is significant travel advisory information. You should tune to this station when you notice flashing yellow lights on area roadside signs or when indicated on overhead Message Signs.

Map of the Peace Bridge Border Crossing Area

Telephone Numbers for the Border Customs Offices at Peace Bridge

• Peace Bridge U.S. Customs Office Telephone Number: (716) 843-8300. 1 Peace Bridge Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14213 United States.
• Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority: From the U.S. – 716-884-6744, From Canada 905-871-1608. Administrative offices are located in Canada at 100 Queen Street, Fort Erie, ON L2A 3S6.
• For Canadian Customs at this port, call the Canadian Border Information Service (BIS), who can answer your questions or transfer you directly to the Canadian port.