More land needed for Canada Customs plaza (updated)

The need for outbound border inspections since the 9-11 terror attacks may necessitate a substantial expansion of the Canada Customs bridge plaza in Sault Ste. Marie, a meeting of the Joint International Bridge Authority (JIBA) was told today.

The plaza design shown here was developed in 2000, but the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon have changed everything.

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JIBA member Gerald Johnston said today that Canada Border Services Agency is talking about unloading 10 percent of the U.S.-bound trucks that cross the border here, for customs inspections.

Considerable space will be needed to do that work, and architect David Ellis from EPOH Inc. said that property acquisitions, most likely to the north and east of the existing plaza. may be needed.

Ellis's firm was today awarded a $100,000 design services contract for the project.

The former Algoma Steel sales office site had been targetted for possible acquisition for the plaza expansion, Ellis said.

But that prospect is now in doubt, with the City of Sault Ste. Marie eyeing the site as a possible location for a new bus terminal if the existing terminal is torn down to create more parking for the new arena.

The EPOH study will look at the need for more truck-inspection space and other 9-11-related security issues.

It will also consider the design implications of the new truck route, and whatever is (or isn't) happening with the Gateway site.

The project is needed, Ellis said, to improve traffic flow, correct operational and building deficiencies, and to re-invigorate the bridge's flagging image in the eyes of the public.

EPOH is to have a draft report ready by September, with a final report to be presented to the Joint International Bridge Authority in November.

In a separate matter, JIBA agreed today to allocate $30,000 to redesign the Canada Customs primary inspection booths.

As SooToday.com has previously reported, the booths are just three feet wide, but current ergonomic standards require that they be five feet across.

SooToday.com background on this story

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