International bridge traffic is up. Again

Commuter traffic is beginning to show an increase due to the strengthening of the Canadian dollar

Canadian border crossing of the Sault Ste. Marie Internal Bridge. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday

NEWS RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE ADMINISTRATION
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The International Bridge Administration today announced that one-way traffic crossings of the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie totaled 126,907 for the month of October 2017. This figure represents an increase of 2.8 per cent, a difference of 3,464 crossings as compared to October 2016.

An analysis of traffic statistics for the month reveals the following:

V ehicle Classification	One-Way Crossings	Change from October 2016	Percent of Total Crossings
Full-Fare Passenger Cars:	50,385	1.1 per cent	39.7 per cent
Commuter Fare:	65,105	2.7 per cent	51.3 per cent
Car Pulling Trailers:	3,445	32.2 per cent	2.7 per cent
Commercial Trucks:	7,972	4.7 per cent	6.3 per cent
Totals:	126,907	2.8 per cent	100.0 per cent

Commuter traffic is beginning to show an increase due to the strengthening of the Canadian dollar while commercial traffic continues to trend upward.

The International Bridge has processed 99.6 million vehicles and is forecast to exceed the major milestone of 100 million bridge crossings in January of 2018.

The International Bridge self-funds operations with toll revenue. Operations include the bridge structure, the Bridge Authority plaza, all maintenance facilities, and all ongoing building support costs and maintenance for the Canada Border Services Agency facility.

As for the construction of the Canadian Plaza Redevelopment Project, it is a Canadian capital project which is financed separately by The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL), through the Canadian Gateways and Border Crossings Fund.

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