Peace Bridge border improvements done

FORT ERIE — The $4.3 million border enhancement project at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ont. and Buffalo, N.Y. is finally complete.

Work on reconfiguring and improving the U.S. Plaza included:

Increasing US-bound inspection processing facilities by the installation of three additional booths which can be used by both passenger and commercial vehicles; U.S. Plaza site works necessitated by plaza reconfiguration, including traffic flow realignment, utility relocation, drainage and landscaping; and demolishing existing toll band and booths from the U. S. side of the Peace Bridge and moving them to the Canadian side of the bridge; and

Also, five automobile inspection lanes were relocated to the north end of the U.S. plaza, allowing room for three new truck inspection lanes — a 75 per cent increase in processing capacity.

“This is an important day for those interested in efficient cross-border transportation at Buffalo-Fort Erie,” said CTA CEO David Bradley. “In the short time that the new lanes were opened up, they have already had a visible impact on moving trucks into the United States more efficiently.

The total costs are being shared equally between the Government of Canada and the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority.

John Lopinski, chairman of the bridge authority stated: “This project has been an unqualified success. It has made the QEW safer as it has removed miles-long truck queues, it is positive for the environment as it keeps traffic moving and facilitates the freer movement of billions of dollars in goods and millions of tourists so essential for the bi-national economy.”