New Cornwall bridge ready for construction

There’s a new bridge on the way in Cornwall, Ontario.

On August 10, the federal government announced plans to fund construction of the new North Channel Bridge at the Seaway International Bridge in the area.

The project involves constructing a new bridge connecting the City of Cornwall and Cornwall Island, as well as demolishing the high-level structure and ramps that currently connect to the existing roadway.

The South Channel Bridge—which connects to the US—will not be affected.

Stakeholders stress that while the current North Channel Bridge is safe, the new bridge will ensure the long-term viability of the border crossing.

About the bridge

With an estimated budget of $75 million—which will be covered by the federal government—the bridge will be integrated with recreational pathways along the waterfront. Nearly all preliminary work has been finished, and portions of the construction are ready to be tendered.

The new bridge is expected to open in spring 2016.

It will be managed by the Seaway International Bridge Corporation, a subsidiary of the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited.

More than 120,000 commercial vehicles cross the bridge each year.

Recent standoff

The bridge made international headlines in the spring of 2009 when a group of Akwesasne Mohawks occupied its Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) entrance point in protest of the federal government’s plans to arm border guards.

As a result, the Canadian border was closed to bridge travellers for nearly six weeks.

In July of 2009, CBSA opened a temporary border post at the north end of the bridge, which re-opened the bridge to traffic.