Trucks-only bridge planned for Buffalo, Fort Erie

BUFFALO, N.Y. (Nov. 4, 2003) — After months of speculation, the private company Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge Group took another step towards its plan to build an international “trucks only” bridge linking Buffalo and Fort Erie.

The Canadian National Railway has sold the private bridge group a seven-acre tract of land
on the U.S. side of the Niagara River critical to its plans to create a transportation corridor that follows the path of the International Railroad Bridge.

The Buffalo News reported the group intends to amass a 50-acre site on the U.S. side of the border to create a truck inspection and processing area. In addition, the group is rumored to have gained control of 50 or more acres on the Canadian side as well, the paper noted.

The bridge group, which last month confirmed that it intends to make a detailed public announcement regarding its plans before the end of the year, has had recent meetings with elected officials in which it advocated a “two-bridge system.” The privately financed bridge would cater mainly to trucks traveling between the U.S. and Canada, while the Peace Bridge would handle the bulk of passenger vehicle traffic.

In other bridge construction news, a coalition of U.S. and Canadian officials are still in the process of discussing plans for a third crossing between Michigan and Ontario. This past summer, the Canada-U.S.-Ontario-Michigan Border Transportation Partnership was seriously eyeing three possibilities for a new tunnel or bridge, each costing between $400 million to US $600 million.

However, Manuel J. Moroun, owner of the Ambassador Bridge, which currently generates $65 million a year in tolls, pledged to block the plan.

— With Files from the Buffalo News