The Government of Canada Tuesday announced it will fund construction of the new North Channel Bridge at the Seaway International Bridge in Cornwall, Ontario.
This project involves constructing a new bridge connecting the City of Cornwall and Cornwall Island, as well as demolishing the current high-level structure and ramps that connect to the existing roadway. While the current bridge remains safe for the travelling public, the new bridge will ensure the long-term viability of this important border crossing.
This initiative will cost approximately Cdn$75 million (US$72.3 million) and will be financed entirely by the Government of Canada. Nearly all preliminary work has been completed and portions of the construction are now ready to be publicly tendered.
The bridge is expected to be open to the public by spring 2016.
The former Seaway International Bridge is an international toll bridge system linking Cornwall, Ontario, Cornwall Island (Akwesasne) and Massena, New York.
The bridge consists of the South and North Channel bridges. The South Channel Bridge was opened in 1958 and spans the St. Lawrence Seaway. The North Channel Bridge, opened in 1962, connects the City of Cornwall to Akwesasne.
The bridge is a vital transportation route for major industry in the region, handling over 120,000 commercial and 2,300,000 passenger transits annually.