No. H222/05For release November 8, 2005
FORT ERIE, ONT - The Government of Canada and the Buffalo and Fort Erie
Public Bridge Authority today announced the completion of work on the U.S. Plaza
at the Peace Bridge, one of the projects funded under the Canada-Peace Bridge
Border Infrastructure Fund.
The total estimated cost of work on the U.S. Plaza is $4.3 million Cdn with
costs being shared equally between the Government of Canada and the Buffalo and
Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, also known as the Peace Bridge.
"Today's ceremony marks an important accomplishment for all parties," said
Welland MP John Maloney, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre. "The
completion of work on the U.S. Plaza will increase processing capacity and
reduce congestion at this border crossing by adding additional inspection booths
at U.S. Customs."
Work on reconfiguring and improving the U.S. Plaza included:
increasing United States-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;
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
relocating five automobile inspection lanes 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.
"I'm pleased at the progress we have made to date on this border
infrastructure project," said Mr. Lapierre. "Not only will these improvements
increase the movement of goods and people to and from the United States and
Canada, they will bring key economic benefits to everyone involved."
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."
The Peace Bridge projects have been funded under the Canada-Peace Bridge
Border Infrastructure Fund, signed between Canada and the bridge authority in
May 2004. The projects include improvements to the Canada and U.S. Plazas,
security and technology improvements and improvements to the Commercial Vehicle
Processing Centre. These projects have been funded at a cost of $42 million and
are being cost-shared 50-50 between Canada and the Peace Bridge.
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Contacts:
Irène Marcheterre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Ron Rienas
General Manager, Buffalo and Fort Erie Public
Bridge Authority
(905) 871-1608 ext. 226
Kirsten Goodnough
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
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