Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, which links Ontario and Michigan at Lake Superior, will receive a major expansion and redevelopment of the bridge’s Canadian Customs Plaza to reduce traffic congestion and improve security.
The bridge is Canada’s tenth-busiest passenger crossing and in 2008 it handled over 1.5 million passenger vehicles. Approximately $1.8 billion in trade crosses it each year, 70 per cent of it Canadian exports to the United States.
The project includes the expansion and redesigning of the existing Canadian Port of Entry, construction of new commercial and travellers’ examination facilities, a new inspection lane for buses, and facilities for NEXUS and FAST frequent traveller programs. The project is due to begin in the fall of 2009 and be completed by 2014, timed to minimize disruptions of existing bridge traffic.
