Ontario Highway 140 History - The King's Highways of Ontario

King's Highway 140 is a major collector highway connecting Welland to Highway 3 in Port Colborne. The highway passes through mostly rural areas along its short route. In the early 1970s, a substantial section of the Welland Canal was relocated across the Niagara Peninsula. Many local roads were severed during the construction of the canal diversion, so a new highway was constructed along the eastern side of the new Welland Canal to improve traffic circulation. Highway 140 was completed in 1972. A new highway tunnel was completed beneath the Welland Canal which linked Highway 140 to the proposed route of Highway 406, which was slowly being extended south from Thorold towards Welland. The route of Highway 140 has not changed since it was established in the 1970s.

Highway 140 is a two-lane limited-access highway from Welland to Port Colborne. While there are no interchanges located along the highway, there are very few major at-grade intersections. Services are located in both Welland and Port Colborne. The speed limit on Highway 140 is 80 km/h (50 mph), unless posted otherwise. Motorists wishing to access Westbound Highway 58A should note that the turnoff for this route actually joins Highway 140 from the east. This is because Highway 58A loops around and passes beneath Highway 140 on its way to the Townline Tunnel at the Welland Canal. The East Main Street Tunnel provides access between Highway 140 and Highway 406 to St. Catharines. This tunnel passes below the Welland Canal and is operated by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. There are no tolls charged for using the East Main Street Tunnel. The highway connection through the tunnel between Highway 140 and Highway 406 has an unposted numerical designation (Highway 7146). Please visit the Highway 140 Mileage Chart page for a list of mileage reference points along Highway 140.