No. H237/05
For release November 18, 2005
NIAGARA FALLS - Border efficiency and support for the world's largest trading
relationship are getting a significant boost with completion of a major
construction project at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. The Government of Canada,
the Province of Ontario and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission celebrated the
completion of the $45-million, fifth-lane Queenston-Lewiston Bridge expansion
project today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the centre of the bridge.
The event was attended by Walt Lastewka, Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Public Works and Government Services, on behalf of federal Transport
Minister Jean-C. Lapierre; Ontario Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar; and
the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission chairman, from New York State, Robert E.
Lewis.
After an aggressive 10-month construction period, the Queenston-Lewiston
Bridge will now offer an additional lane of traffic. The fifth lane will be
available primarily to commercial trucks enrolled in the bi-national Canada-U.S.
Free and Secure Trade pre-screening program.
"Trade between the United States and Canada contributes to growth in both our
economies and provides consumers with greater choice," said Mr. Lastewka. "These
improvements at the border will be of tremendous benefit to Canadian and
American commerce, tourism and trade."
"The Queenston-Lewiston Bridge is Canada's fourth busiest commercial border
crossing with more than one million truck crossings every year," said Minister
Takhar. "It is vital to the provincial economy that we keep the $28 billion in
goods carried annually across this border moving efficiently. These improvements
will help reduce congestion at the Niagara border."
The fifth lane project was funded by the Government of Canada, the Province
of Ontario and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission under the Border
Infrastructure Fund. Each partner contributed $15 million to the project.
"This is great news for Canada and the United States," said Mr. Lapierre.
"Not only will the expansion of the bridge allow for efficient movement of goods
between Canada and the United States, it will also ensure a safer passage in and
out of Canada."
"We are delighted that the project is nearly complete, ahead of schedule and
on budget," said Mr. Lewis. "The additional lane will reduce delays for
commercial and consumer traffic while enhancing security at the fourth busiest
crossing between Canada and the United States."
In addition to the new lane on the bridge itself, new lanes on Highway 405
are now open for trucks travelling to the United States. By giving trucks a
dedicated lane to U.S. Customs, beginning well back from the bridge, safety will
be improved, congestion reduced and crossing efficiency enhanced.
The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission is the international entity that owns,
operates and manages the Queenston-Lewiston, Rainbow and Whirlpool Bridges. The
commission is governed by eight commissioners, four named by the Premier of
Ontario and four appointed by the Governor of New York. It is self-supported
through tolls and tenant leases.
The Government of Canada's funding for this project comes from the
$600-million Border Infrastructure Fund, established in the 2001 budget. The
fund is designed to contribute to projects that reduce border congestion,
improve the flow of goods and services and expand infrastructure over the medium
term.
Provincial funding for this project is part of the Ontario government's ReNew
Ontario investment of $1.2 billion in highway infrastructure this year.
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Contacts:
Mylène Dupéré
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Stephanie Nadalin
Director of Communications
Office of the Ontario Minister of
Transportation, Toronto
(416) 327-1815
Kirsten Goodnough
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Bob Nichols
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Toronto
(416) 327-1158
Karen Karasaewski
Niagara Bridge Commission
(716) 636-4617
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
BACKGROUNDER BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
In Budget 2001, the Government of Canada announced its intention to provide
$600 million to support improved efficiency at Canada's borders. The Border
Infrastructure Fund is a comprehensive approach towards sustaining and
increasing the long-term safety and efficiency of the Canada-US border. It
encompasses physical infrastructure and intelligent transportation systems and
helps provide decision makers with better information on border issues as they
pertain to congestion.
In the wake of the events of September 11, 2001, the Government of Canada
renewed its commitment to public and economic security by signing a declaration
for the creation of a Smart Border for the 21st century between the United
States and Canada. The Smart Border Action Plan is supported by four pillars:
secure flow of people, secure flow of goods, secure infrastructure, and
coordination and information sharing in the enforcement of these objectives.
The Border Infrastructure Fund is being implemented in cooperation with
provincial, territorial and municipal governments, academic and research
institutes, and with partners from the public and private sectors on both sides
of the border, to form an integral component of the Smart Border Action Plan.
The two central objectives of the Border Infrastructure Fund are to support
the Smart Border Action Plan by reducing border congestion, and to expand
existing infrastructure capacity over the medium term to support ongoing
economic growth.
In fulfilling these objectives, funding is largely targeted towards major
crossings, such as Windsor, Sarnia, Niagara Falls and Fort Erie, in Ontario, and
Douglas, British Columbia.
The Government of Canada makes a maximum contribution of 50 per cent towards
the total eligible costs of each project.
All projects are selected under the authority of the Minister of State
(Infrastructure and Communities) based on the following investment criteria:
mitigation of congestion;
enhancement of system capacity;
coordination with adjacent U.S. border facility and road access network;
support for implementation of the Smart Border Action Plan;
enhancement of safety and security at border crossings; and
financial participation of other public and private sector partners.
November 2005
