June 2, 2015 — Motorists crossing the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge may see fire department equipment and staff on the bridge for equipment tests later this week.

Fire equipment and personnel from the sister cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, are tentatively scheduled to be on the bridge deck Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4. They will be working with International Bridge staff to test a water piping system designed to respond to a bridge fire.

“Immediately after 9/11 we partnered with both city fire departments and installed piping on two bridge piers,” said International Bridge Administration (IBA) General Manager Phil Becker. “The piping is used to bring city water up to the bridge deck at strategic locations near the U.S. and Canadian arch structures.”

Becker said this week’s tests — which are performed every two years or so — will verify the equipment will function properly if it is called upon to respond to a vehicle fire on the bridge. The tests will also serve to familiarize fire department personnel with the piping system and connections.

During the tests, one bridge lane will be closed to traffic for approximately two hours at each of the two pier locations. Two-way traffic will be maintained under flag control.

For more information on the International Bridge, please visit www.saultbridge.com or follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/saultbridge.