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Investment in Blue Water Bridge
20 March 2009
Point Edward, Ontario
The Blue Water Bridge is the 2nd-busiest Canada-U.S. border crossing for trucks and is the 4th-busiest for total vehicles. It facilitated approximately 5 million crossings in 2008, of which 1.5 million were by trucks. This crossing is a key component of the Ontario-Quebec Continental Gateway and Trade Corridor. The Canadian half of the Blue Water Bridge is owned and operated by Blue Water Bridge Canada (BWBC), also known as Blue Water Bridge Authority, a federal Crown corporation.
The Government of Canada is investing $13.5 million to improve the Canadian plaza at the Blue Water Bridge and to help reduce traffic congestion and facilitate local border crossing.
Through this investment Blue Water Bridge Canada will undertake several projects as part
of its greater plan to redesign the entire Canadian plaza. These projects include:
- Widening the plaza to accommodate the widening of Highway 402, being executed by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation;
- New dynamic message signs to provide real time information to commercial and passenger traffic;
- New inspection booths to satisfy Canada Border Services Agency requirements;
- A truck return road, required to secure roadway for commercial vehicles ordered to return to the U.S.;
- A fall arrest system on both bridge spans to protect maintenance staff working on the bridge;
- An alternate Nexus lane, required for the Canada Border Services Agency to provide 24/7 Nexus coverage for inbound traffic; and
- Other plaza improvements such as lighting, communications and electrical upgrades.
