Crossing the Peace Bridge may be more difficult for the next six months, as traffic will be down to one lane in each direction from November 15 through May 15, 2017 for construction related to the ongoing $100 million Peace Bridge rehabilitation.
“So long as Customs appropriately staffs and keeps inspection lanes open this winter, then we anticipate little to no traffic disruption,” remarked PBA Board Chair Sam Hoyt. “But that commitment really needs to be made and maintained and that is why the Authority is calling on all levels of government from both sides of the border to get
involved and speak up about the importance of these traffic flow and staffing issues at the Peace Bridge. We’ve gotten strong indications from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that they can meet the staffing demand and we need Canada Border Services Agency to follow suit.””
Richard Gobeille, National Toll and Finance Manager for Jacobs Civil Consultants, a traffic consultant hired by the PBA, said the Peace Bridge has a per-lane capacity of approximately 1,000 vehicles per hour, "which is more than the anticipated number of cars during November through May," so delays are expected to be minimal. "One lane of traffic in each direction can certainly accommodate normal traffic flows across the Peace Bridge, both east and westbound, especially during months when daily traffic volumes are significantly lower than in the summer season,” Gobeille said.
Several years ago, the PBA embarked upon a capital improvement plan to ensure the long-term viability of the Peace Bridge as a regional and international corridor. The $100 million rehabilitation project is scheduled to be completed in spring 2019.
A series of traffic management improvements have been completed, including the recently completed widening of the Peace Bridge’s U.S. approach allows an increased number of trucks to be queued off the bridge. An eighth commercial inspection booth is also slated for installation by December to increase throughout capacity for trucks within the U.S. plaza. On the Canadian side, a partial fourth lane has been added to provide Canada-bound trucks and NEXUS users easier access off of the bridge.
All three lanes of the Peace Bridge will be open throughout the traditionally busy summer seasons.
