Advisory: International Bridge traffic impacts from annual bridge walk Saturday

June 21, 2018 – The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic during the 32nd Annual Bridge Walk and Bicycle Parade on Saturday, June 23.

The bridge will close to vehicle traffic at 8:15 a.m. and will reopen at approximately 10:30 a.m. after walkers have been cleared by customs.

The International Bridge Administration (IBA) strongly encourages walkers who need bus transportation to the U.S. before the start of the walk to catch the early buses. Buses will begin shuttling walkers from the Marconi Club at 7 a.m.

There will be some significant changes this year for walkers wishing to return to the U.S. after completing the walk across the bridge. The first six buses will be loaded at Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on the Canadian plaza. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the buses are loaded, they will return to the U.S. Walkers who need a bus return to the U.S. after the first six buses are full will need to continue through CBSA to the Marconi Club to wait for the next available bus. Cost for the bus is $5 per individual and $15 for a family.

The IBA reminds motorists queuing up on the Canadian side waiting to cross the bridge when it reopens after the event that they will need to enter the Canadian Plaza from Carmen’s Way. The Huron Street entrance will be closed.

Individuals who may require rest facilities will need to go through CBSA to the Marconi Club. Public restrooms are not available for walkers on the plaza or on the buses.

More information on the annual bridge walk can be found at http://ssmcoc.com/events/2018/06/23/1529 or www.facebook.com/SSMbridgewalk. Visit the IBA website at www.saultbridge.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/saultbridge.

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Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge:
Bridging Our Past, Connecting Our Future

Advisory: International Bridge closed to vehicle traffic for annual bridge walk June 23

The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic during the 32nd Annual Bridge Walk and Bicycle Parade on Saturday, June 23.

The bridge will close to vehicle traffic at 8:15 a.m. and will reopen at approximately 10:30 a.m. after walkers have been cleared by customs. (more…)

Update: International Bridge falcons hatch chicks

Fast facts:
- A pair of peregrine falcons successfully nested on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge this spring.
- The International Bridge Administration (IBA) webcam showed a pair of chicks hatched at the nest site on May 31.
- The IBA “FalCam” can be accessed at http://www.saultbridge.com/falcam.

falcon-hatch-small_original

A pair of peregrine falcons recently hatched two chicks in the nest box at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge. The image was captured on the new nest camera, now streaming live online. (IBA photo)

June 4, 2018 – Peregrine falcons have successfully hatched two eggs at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge this year. The International Bridge Administration (IBA) has a new nest camera, the “FalCam,” which caught chicks hatching on the morning of May 31.

Archived FalCam video of the chicks hatching is available at http://www.youtube.com/saultbridge.

Since the live FalCam video stream, viewable at http://www.saultbridge.com/falcam, went online, the IBA has seen website usage increase by 46 percent. (more…)

International Bridge plans summer projects

Fast facts:
- The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge has several repair and painting projects scheduled for this summer.
- A bridge abutment repair project will use an innovative epoxy injection technique for greater efficiency and fewer traffic impacts.
- The International Bridge Administration (IBA) will also replace sliding bearings, apply epoxy bridge deck coating and paint several bridge components.

To address ongoing maintenance needs at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, the International Bridge Administration (IBA) has scheduled several repair and painting projects this summer.

Annual bridge inspections in recent years have noted sinkholes and the movement and leakage of sand around and through both the Canadian and U.S. bridge abutments. At present, this condition is not severe.

“After 56 years of aging, loss of sand through the abutment embankment and retaining walls is not out of the ordinary,” said International Bridge Engineer Karl Hansen. (more…)

International Bridge debuts falcon nest cam

Fast facts:

- A pair of peregrine falcons has returned to nest on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge this spring.

- The International Bridge Administration (IBA) recently installed a webcam showing the nest site. Dubbed the “FalCam,” it can be accessed at http://www.saultbridge.com/falcam.

- Birds have been returning to the bridge for years, hatching 24 chicks since 2010.  

Falcon Camera (March 29, 2018 7:48 AM EDT)

A peregrine falcon visits the nest box at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge this morning. The image was captured on a new nest camera, now streaming live online. (IBA photo March 29, 2018 7:48 AM EDT)

March 29, 2018 – Peregrine falcons returning to the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge this year will need to get ready for their close-ups. The International Bridge Administration (IBA) has installed a new nest camera, the “FalCam,” to allow people to watch them online this year.

While they may still fine-tune the vantage point and the zoom factor, the IBA now has the live video stream viewable at http://www.saultbridge.com/falcam.

(more…)