I live in the NIagara region and expanding the QEW is not possible through the city of St.Catharines due to it being elevated in some areas, you would have to build it over main roads in the city.. The population the last 5 years is picking up despite lagging behind some of the GTA, NIagara...
Yes the escarpment could pose a lot of issues but I do see waterdown and flamborough being developed at some point. It might be good to build that section at a later date
Some parts you could widen it fairly easily but through st. catharines it's mostly elevated which would be a hard task but I see the Peninsula Highway being built in the very long term probably after 2050.