16 months of construction and $11 million (U.S.) later, the new Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge toll plaza officially opened Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting, dedication ceremony and a tour of the new Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA) building for invited guests.
A public open house of the SSMBA building will be held Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
"One of the main reasons for moving forward with this project was customer service and customer safety," said Phil Becker, International Bridge Authority general manager, speaking to SooToday in his office Wednesday.
"The new plaza has seven toll lanes, the old plaza had five, and the new building has a public service lobby with a customer service desk, something that the old building didn't have."
"We have dozens of customers come in every day to service their Prox card accounts, we have 25,000 Prox card accounts, 200 commercial accounts, and we didn't have the ability to serve them in a respectable, efficient way in the old building," Becker said.
"The other thing is safety…the old toll booths were very close to U.S. Customs inspection booths so there wasn't a lot of room for traffic to merge as they exited from U.S. Customs to the toll lanes, plus, from a couple of locations it was almost impossible for big trucks to turn and go through our toll booths."
The new plaza has fixed those problems.
The new toll booths/administration building project dates back to a 1997 feasibility study, but actual construction of the project was delayed for seven years.
The SSMBA decided to postpone design and construction of the project, Becker emphasized, dedicating its funds instead to necessary International Bridge maintenance and safety for private and commercial traffic.
The project was also stalled in 2013 because the three construction bids received were over budget.
A contractor was eventually selected, however, and construction got underway in June 2014.
A separate ribbon cutting for the toll booths took place in October 2014.
Design and construction engineering for the new toll booths and building cost $2.1 million, while the construction contract cost $8.9 million.
Funding for the project came from toll revenues, Becker said.
The new booths and building were designed by Sault, Ontario's EPOH architectural firm, while construction was carried out by DeVere Construction of Alpena, Michigan.
"It's a great building, the owner is really happy…this is an expertise we have, designing border crossings in general, we're doing the one in Sault, Canada, we're doing Thousand Islands, we did the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, we like to pursue public buildings that are significant community buildings and this fits right into that," said Franco Pastore, EPOH architect, speaking to SooToday.
The building has large windows everywhere.
"We love natural light," said Pastore.
"For the people who work in these places it really affects their demeanour (for the better), we really believe that and you see that in our buildings."
The new building includes an expanded customer service counter, the main operations room equipped with cameras and a view of the toll booths, the U.S. border crossing and the International Bridge, and an operations room from which officials can work in case an emergency such as a bomb scare or other serious incident occurs.
The feature of the complex with the biggest "wow factor" is, perhaps, the one-way, 195-foot long utility tunnel running from the administration building, under the toll booths, to the I-75.
The tunnel connects the wiring and technology from the toll booths to the administration building, and includes a ladder and an escape hatch which leads to one of the toll booths should a worker in the tunnel get trapped.
Approximately 120 VIPs from both sides of the border attended Wednesday's ceremony.
"Today is a very special day for our communities (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan), a key step in our evolution as a crossing of excellence and an outstanding example of the bi-national partnership in place at this crossing," said Helen Gillespie, SSMBA chair, addressing the audience gathered for Wednesday's ceremony.
The dedication ceremony was also very much a celebration of a job well done by Becker, who has served as International Bridge Authority general manager since 2001 and announced, in August, his retirement effective January 2016.
An appreciative Becker accepted the expressions of gratitude from several speakers, as well as the gift of a cribbage board crafted in the shape of the International Bridge.
Sault, Ontario city council will officially recognize Becker's years of service as International Bridge general manager by way of a resolution on Monday, announced Ward 2 city councillor Susan Myers, speaking on behalf of Mayor Christian Provenzano.
Sault, Michigan Mayor Anthony Bosbous was in attendance and also spoke with enthusiasm of the new building and Becker's years of service.
Becker acknowledged the role played in the history of the International Bridge by James McIntyre, who served as Sault, Ontario mayor when the bridge opened in 1962.
McIntyre died in February as the result of an accident.
McIntyre served for decades in leadership roles with the St. Mary's River Bridge Company (SMRBC), the Joint International Bridge Authority (JIBA) and its successor, the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA).
"Jim's 50-plus years of service to the bridge will never be matched," Becker said.
Members of McIntyre's family attended Wednesday's ceremony.
(PHOTO: Nicholas White, Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority vice-chair, and Helen Gillespie, Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority chair, cut the ribbon at the official opening of the new Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority building, October 21, 2015. Darren Taylor/SooToday)
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Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA) board members were joined by bridge staff, contractor representatives and local dignitaries today to celebrate the completion of the 16-month-long, $8.9 million (USD) toll plaza project with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony.
Nearly 100 invitees gathered at the new plaza for the festivities, which opened with the raising of the U.S. and Canadian flags to the accompaniment of local bagpiper Robert Craig.
A rousing rendition of both countries' national anthems by the binational Sweet Adelines choir from the sister cities of Sault Ste. Marie followed.
The event continued with a Native American drum song, comments from dignitaries, unveiling of a plaza dedication plaque, and project tours.
SSMBA Chairwoman Helen Gillespie welcomed attendees, noting the project was another outstanding example of the binational partnership in place at the crossing.
"This project is a culmination of seven years of effort in which engineers, architects, contractors, and suppliers from Michigan and Ontario worked together to provide a facility that will improve bridge customer safety and service," Gillespie said.
Rick Talvitie, the local Federal Bridge Corporation Ltd. (FBCL) board member, provided a Canadian perspective, congratulating the project team for an architecturally stunning, functional, safe, and efficient new administration building and plaza.
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Chief Administrative Officer Laura Mester drew attention to the innovative aspects of the project and efforts to minimize the impact on bridge customer traffic during the project.
"Innovation and customer service are key to MDOT success," Mester said. "Team innovation was fundamental throughout this project -- especially during the construction phase. It started with an innovative contracting method in which the bridge management team, project engineering firm, and the prospective contractor sat down in a series of meetings to analyze the project design from a functionality and cost perspective before settling on a mutually acceptable price. Bridge staff also used innovative solutions in maintaining uninterrupted traffic flow and effective customer communication, to the point that toll customer surveys showed an improvement in customer satisfaction during the construction."
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, City Councilor Susan Myers, speaking on behalf of Mayor Christian Provenzano, and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Mayor Tony Bosbous stressed the importance of the project to maintaining the unique sister city relationship that exists between the neighboring cities.
Phil Becker, International Bridge Authority (IBA) general manager, recognized the project team consisting of dozens of architects, engineers and inspectors from Michigan and Ontario firms, as well as the prime contractor, Devere Construction from Alpena, Michigan, and dozens of subcontractors and suppliers.
He highlighted the efforts of Karl Hansen, IBA bridge engineer, and Peter Petainen, IBA chief financial officer, who served as project manager and assistant project manager, respectively.
"This was a very complicated project with many interrelated aspects, yet it was successfully completed on time and on budget," Becker said. "Complicating factors included moving toll collection systems and equipment from old booths to new ones while maintaining toll operations and moving security, data, communication, power, and customer service operations from the old building to the new one with uninterrupted service. Devere staff and their subcontractors did an outstanding job addressing our concerns and issues on behalf of our customers."
The new administration building and seven toll lanes replaced the 53-year-old building and five toll lanes built in 1962 as part of the original bridge project.
The new plaza will improve customer safety by providing more southbound traffic merge space between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection booths and bridge toll booths.
The project also provides a dedicated customer service area and parking.
At the conclusion of the presentations, SSMBA chairwoman Gillespie and vice chairman Nicholas White unveiled the bronze plaza dedication plaque bearing the inscription:
THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE TOLL PLAZA
Dedicated to our Binational Partnership
Promoting Trade, Tourism and Economic Development
through Exceptional Public Service and
Infrastructure Stewardship
On this 21st day of October, 2015
Several officials then joined the SSMBA officers for the official ribbon-cutting, followed by guided tours of the new plaza and building by bridge staff. A public open house, also featuring tours of the project, will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.
The operation and maintenance of the International Bridge is totally self-funded, primarily through bridge tolls.
It is not subsidized by any state, provincial or federal government entity.
For a complete list of International Bridge tolls, visit the IBA website at www.michigan.gov/IBA.
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The mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., honored longtime manager of the International Bridge by proclaiming today Phillip M. Becker Day in the city.
Becker, who recently announced his plans to retire in 2016, is completing 29 years of public service with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), including 15 years serving as general manager of the International Bridge Administration (IBA).
Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Anthony Bosbous praised Becker for his strong community involvement, keen interpersonal skills and engaging personality, and cited him as a key proponent for the signing of the 2012 Sister Cities agreement by Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Ontario.
"Phillip's enthusiasm and active community involvement continues to build and support the Sault Ste. Marie Sister Cities bi-national partnership by encouraging and supporting community events, such as the Annual International Bridge Walk and the Sault International Festival of Races," Bosbous said.
Bosbous touted Becker's unwavering advocacy of the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Bus -- jointly supported by the City of Sault Ste. Marie, MDOT, and the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority -- which provides convenient, affordable cross-border public transportation.
The honor came during a ribbon-cutting celebration marking the completion of the 16-month-long, $8.9 million (USD) toll plaza project at the bridge.
Bosbous noted the project, approved and designed under Becker's watch, has remedied operational and safety deficiencies while "enhancing the northern gateway to Michigan and improving bridge customer service."
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, City Councilwoman Susan Myers also recognized Becker as the "chief keeper of the bridge," commending him in an official city proclamation.
His management and oversight has enabled the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge to become a crossing of excellence," Myers said.
In accepting the honors, Becker credited the bridge staff for the progress during his tenure.
"The only thing I've accomplished here is bringing together an excellent team and it's been really rewarding,” Becker said. "It's been such a privilege. It's been fun."
For more information on the International Bridge, please visit www.saultbridge.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/saultbridge.
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