Feds, Ontario announce over $300 million for border projects

FORT ERIE, Ont. (May 6, 2004) — Transport Canada and the Government of Ontario have announced a joint $323 million investment to fund 14 border infrastructure projects at the busiest traffic sections in Southern Ontario.

Through the Border Infrastructure Fund, both governments confirmed today an 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 — as well as improved bridges and abutments, resurfacing of roads and dedicated truck lanes on steep grades — to the Queen Elizabeth Way and Highways 401, 402 and 405 in Southern Ontario, as well as to the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge.

Additionally, the Government of Canada has agreed to provide the Buffalo and Fort Erie Bridge Authority $42 million for improvements on and around the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ont.

“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 Ontario Transport Minister Harinder Takhar.

The project at the Queenston-Lewiston border crossing will include: a new lane for commercial drivers, as well a dedicated lane on Highway 405 leading to the bridge for those registered in the FAST pre-processing customs clearance program.

The Peace Bridge — which handles over 6.7 million cars and 1.35 million trucks — will see 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. There will also be 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 Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) — a major trade corridor from the Greater Toronto Area to the Niagara region and the border to Buffalo — will be widened to six lanes from Mountain Road in Niagara Falls to west of Glendale Ave in Niagara-on-the-Lake; and widening on Hwy. 406 to the Garden City Skyway Bridge in St. Catharines. Construction is expected to be completed in 2007.

Canada’s second busiest border crossing, the Blue Water Bridge, will undergo six projects. These include: Widening Hwy. 401 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; the reconstruction of a 20 km stretch of Highway 402; operational improvements on a 9 km stretch of Highway 402; security enhancements at the bridge; and intelligent transportation systems including the installation of variable message signs on Highway 402 to commence in 2004.

Ontario Trucking Association President David Bradley, welcomed today’s announcement. “Canada-US trade depends on the efficient movement of trucks across our border. This announcement will certainly make it easier to do so,” he said in a statement.

Last March, both levels of government announced a $300 million investment program to relieve tie-ups and traffic congestion at the world’s busiest border crossing between Windsor, Ont. and Detroit.

Some of that money will go towards infrastructure improvements to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Plaza; the construction of a pedestrian overpass near the intersection of Huron Church Road and Girardot Street; and further improvements to the Industrial Drive/Huron Church Road intersection to support the development of the new pre-processing facility recently opened on Industrial Drive.