American-Canadian Bridge Undergoes Repair
One of the most important topics we cover here at TopMark Funding regarding the trucking industry is the country’s infrastructure, and how it is often in desperate need of repair.
International truckers traveling to Canada and back by way of the Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron, Michigan, need to know that for the next few months, the traffic there is going to be a lot heavier due to a repair initiative.
Details
From July 5th to October 23rd, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is closing the westbound side of the Blue Water Bridge connecting the United States with Canada. During this period of repair, expected to last a little more than three months, the eastbound span is being split, with one of the three lanes now operating as a westbound lane instead.
This change results in a decrease of the number of available lanes heading westward by 66% and those heading eastward by 33%, so truckers that find themselves traveling along the Blue Water Bridge often should plan accordingly. The U.S. government estimates that 680,000 trucks travel by means of the bridge in a year, meaning that approximately 170,000 trucks are expected to be impacted as a direct result of this repairwork.
While MDOT understands that this increase in traffic is going to be welcomed with a resounding 0.01% approval rating, they consider it a better alternative to the bridge spontaneously collapsing with people on it. “The Blue Water Bridge is an essential economic link between Canada and the United States,” MDOT said. “This important project continues the commitment between the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to maintain and preserve the safety and reliability of the Blue Water Bridge.”
Beyond the decreased number in lanes, MDOT is also restricting the transportation of loads to 11 feet in maximum width, due to the crowded space.
Conclusion
Truckers that want to try to mitigate the lost time due to the resulting traffic may want to try (relatively) nearby bridges, such as Detroit-Windsor tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge. Whatever the case, we want our truckers hauling key Canadians exports, such as aluminum and steel, to have the smoothest trip possible during this time.
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