The Honourable Tony Valeri, Minister of Transport, together with the Honourable Harinder Takhar, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, the Honourable Jim Bradley, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism and Recreation, Nancy McIntosh, Chair of the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, and Paul Koessler, Chair of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Bridge Authority today announced the signing of joint contribution agreements to improve highways and bridges in Niagara and Sarnia regions.
Funding agreements set to improve highways and bridges in Niagara, Sarnia and London
Southern Ontario’s busiest sections of highway and high-traffic border crossings will undergo substantial improvements in an effort to tackle congestion and access issues that face commercial trucks and visitors to and from the United States. This series of expansions and improvements will be made possible thanks to two contribution agreements signed today, which formalize $323 million in funding from the Governments of Canada and Ontario, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission and the Buffalo and Fort Erie Bridge Authority.
The governments of Canada and Ontario, together with the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission confirmed a joint funding agreement of $281 million for improvements to highways and border-crossing infrastructure in the Sarnia, Niagara and London areas. This joint funding will support capacity upgrades to the Queen Elizabeth Way and Highways 401, 402 and 405 in Southern Ontario, as well as to the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge.
The Government of Canada and the Buffalo and Fort Erie Bridge Authority also confirmed an agreement to provide $42 million for improvements on and around the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie.
“Four of the busiest border crossings between Canada and the United States, representing a large proportion of Canada’s total trade, are located right here in Southern Ontario. We are proud that the agreements we announce today will have a direct impact on three of our most important crossings. These projects will not only help the local economies, but will have a significant economic impact throughout Eastern Canada,” stated Minister Valeri.
“By making strategic investments in these highway and infrastructure projects, we are tackling cross-border gridlock and making it easier to transport goods and services in and out of Ontario,” said Minister Takhar. “We are working together to build safe and strong communities with a quality of life that is second to none.”
“Today’s announcement is good news for Niagara and Sarnia, because improved highways will keep trade and tourism flowing through our province more efficiently,” said Minister Bradley. “Increased tourism means a stronger and more prosperous economy. We will all benefit.”
The agreements signed today will flow funds to projects that increase capacity on substantial stretches of highway, improve bridges and abutments, resurface roads and add dedicated truck lanes on steep grades. Technological and security improvements will also contribute to safe and efficient border crossing operations, which are critical to the continuing development of Canada’s economic and trade relationship with the United States.
The Government of Canada’s contribution to these projects will be made through the Border Infrastructure Fund (BIF). The Fund helps to support initiatives in the Smart Border Action Plan signed by the Canadian and U.S. governments, by contributing to projects that reduce border congestion, improve the flow of goods and services and expand infrastructure capacity over the medium term. The Fund is also part of the Government of Canada’s overall strategy to ensure the country has modern infrastructure that supports economic growth. Through the BIF the Government of Canada works with the provinces and municipal governments, as well as the private sector, to meet strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country.
The Ontario government is committed to making strategic investments to projects that will improve road safety, speed up the flow of cross-border traffic, protect and strengthen local jobs and growth, and build safe and strong communities. To date, the governments of Canada and Ontario have jointly announced $623-million to improve Ontario border crossings and highway infrastructure.
Backgrounder
Border Infrastructure Fund Projects — Ontario
The Projects
Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, Queenston
Queenston-Lewiston is Canada’s fourth busiest crossing, operated by the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, with over 1 million trucks traveling through each year. It is also the ninth busiest passenger crossing, handling 3.3 million vehicles a year, or over 9,000 per day.
Crossing the border at Queenston-Lewiston frequently involves delays, which impedes the efficiency of this crossing for commercial traffic and create safety issues. Two projects, at a cost of $51 million, will create:
- a new lane for commercial drivers registered in a pre-processing customs clearance program, on the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge; and
- a dedicated lane on Highway 405 leading to the bridge for drivers registered in pre-processed customs clearance programs.
The projects are designed to improve efficiency by separating trucks that are registered in pre-processed low-risk custom clearance programs from the regular stream of traffic. These pre-clearance programs, such as the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program, allow commercial drivers with appropriate security papers to spend less time in routine aspects of security clearance at the border, although both Canadian and U.S. customs authorities may inspect these pre-cleared trucks at any time. Expediting these trucks should reduce congestion, and improve safety, security and efficiency at this crossing.
Costs will be shared by the provincial and federal governments ($18 million each) and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission ($15 million), which is also investing in other improvements to ensure a smooth flow of people and goods. The environmental assessment for these projects is underway and construction is planned to commence this summer and to be completed in 2006, pending federal environmental assessment approval.
Peace Bridge, Fort Erie
The Peace Bridge is Canada’s third busiest passenger crossing, handling 6.7 million cars and 1.35 million trucks crossing in 2001.
The projects, in which the Government of Canada and the Buffalo-Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority will each invest $21 million (for a total of $42 million), include the following components:
- the redesign of the Canadian Plaza—including relocating Canadian Border Service Agency facilities—to improve lane capacity and to permit toll booths on the U.S. side to be moved (which in turn will expand U.S Customs’ ability to efficiently inspect Canadian trucks headed to the U.S.);
- security enhancements;
- technology enhancements, including intelligent transportation systems to better manage traffic and provide drivers with up-to-date information; and
- commercial vehicle processing centre upgrades to support FAST.
The Peace Bridge projects are designed to enhance operations for both Canada-bound and U.S.-bound traffic. The environmental assessment for these projects is underway and construction is planned to commence later this Spring and to be completed in 2007.
Queen Elizabeth Way
The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) is the major trade corridor from the Greater Toronto Area to the Niagara region and is the principal trade corridor to four international crossings (Queenston-Lewiston, Rainbow, Whirlpool and Peace Bridges) over the Niagara River to New York State. Traffic flow is frequently congested during peak periods. As an older highway, this section of the QEW is not up to current design standards. The QEW carries an average of approximately 79,000 vehicles per day, of which about 17 percent are commercial vehicles. Summer traffic is significantly higher, with about 100,000 vehicles per day through St. Catharines. The traffic growth on the QEW has risen significantly over the past 10 years and is expected to continue to increase by 40 percent over the next 10 years.
There are two projects in which the Governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest just over $57 million (for a total of $114 million):
- QEW widening to six lanes — Mountain Road in Niagara Falls to west of Glendale Ave in Niagara-on-the-Lake; and
- QEW widening — Hwy 406 to the Garden City Skyway Bridge in St. Catharines.
These two projects are expected to reduce congestion and improve safety on the QEW, and by eliminating this major bottleneck, speed up truck traffic heading to the border.
Construction on the Mountain Road to Glendale Avenue project commenced last summer and is expected to be complete in 2007. The environmental assessment for the Highway 406 to Garden City Skyway project is underway and construction of the first phase, the Henley Bridges, is planned to commence later this year and to be completed in 2009 pending federal environmental assessment approval.
The Blue Water Bridge, Point Edward
The Blue Water Bridge, operated by the Blue Water Bridge Authority and located in Point Edward, Ontario, is Canada’s second busiest truck border crossing, with almost 4,600 trucks each day in 2003. It is also the sixth busiest passenger crossing, with over 11,000 passenger vehicles daily. In 2002, 1.56 million trucks carrying 9 percent of Canada’s trade with the U.S. crossed the bridge. The Blue Water Bridge is the fastest growing Canada – U.S. commercial crossing, handling over $51 billion in goods in 2002, up from $20 billion in 1993.
Six projects will be undertaken at a total cost of $115.5 million, with a federal contribution of $57.75 million, a provincial contribution of $56.75 million, and a contribution of $1 million from the Village of Point Edward. The projects will improve access to the bridge, as well as help reduce the frequent truck congestion and traffic delays. Safety and security will also be improved at the Blue Water Bridge.
Five of the projects are:
- the reconstruction of a 20 km stretch of Highway 402, this project is planned to commence construction this Spring and to be completed in 2008;
- operational improvements on a 9 km stretch of Highway 402, this project is planned to commence construction in 2006 and to be completed in 2009;
- security enhancements at the bridge, this project is planned to commence construction in 2006 and be completed in 2007;
- widening of Highway 402 near the bridge, this project is planned to commence construction in 2006 and be completed in 2009; and
- intelligent transportation systems including the installation of variable message signs on Highway 402 to commence in 2004 and be completed in 2006.
These five projects are intended to improve the safety and efficiency of Highway 402 leading to the border crossing. The work includes constructing a dedicated lane for commercial truck drivers who are already registered in a program where their security details are filed with Customs authorities on both sides of the border. Pre-clearance programs such as the Free and Secure Trade program allow commercial drivers with appropriate security papers to spend less time in routine aspects of security clearance at the border. Both Canadian and U.S. customs authorities may inspect these pre-cleared trucks at any time. Speeding up the secure movement of commercial vehicles will reduce congestion, improve safety, and improve efficiency at this border crossing.
The sixth project to be funded under the contribution agreement will result in improvements to Highway 401, to improve access to Highway 402 leading to the Blue Water Bridge. Highway 401 is Ontario’s principal export highway and this specific section of the highway serves as an important transportation corridor. Highway 401 connects to Highway 402 at London, which leads to the bridge, and the interchange handles a high volume of traffic.
The smooth flow of traffic on Highway 401 to provide safe, reliable, on-time delivery of goods and services is critical for Ontario’s competitiveness. In 2002, this section of Highway 401 carried over $167 billion in international trade. Highway 401 provides connections to both the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor and the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward. The roadway carries an average of approximately 52,000 vehicles per day of which about 30 percent are commercial vehicles. Summer traffic is estimated to be 58,000 vehicles per day.
Highway 401 will be widened to six lanes approaching Highway 402 and the Wellington Road/Highway 401 interchange and 401/402 interchange will be upgraded at a cost of over $20 million. This project is expected to reduce congestion and improve safety at the 401/402 junction and help speed up truck traffic heading to the border.
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