Feds give Niagara bridge project big cash boost
NIAGARA FALLS — Ottawa is kicking in $62 million to assist the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission for the completion of a $130-million project to redevelop the Canadian plaza at the Queenston-Lewiston border crossing.
Phase One of the project began in March 2007 and entailed the construction of new toll, parking and commercial inspection facilities.
This second phase includes the construction of a commercial vehicle secondary inspection warehouse, additional passenger primary inspection lanes, a new central building for the Canada Border Services Agency, a new animal inspection facility and the installation of a wall to separate traffic bound for Canada and for the U.S.
The work represents the largest facelift the bridge has undergone since it opened in 1962.
border expansion project
The Queenston-Lewiston bridge is the fourth-busiest Canada-United States commercial and land border crossing.
In 2007, bridge traffic accounted for about 920,000 two-way commercial vehicle crossings, or 2,500 commercial vehicles per day.
Improving the existing plaza will allow the NFBC to take advantage of additional capacity provided by the recently constructed fifth bridge lane, which dedicates one lane in each direction to the FAST program.
This project is funded under the $33-billion Building Canada plan through the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund.
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