Back to the nest: Falcons return to the International Bridge

Fast facts:

Another pair of the endangered falcons successfully nested on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, where the birds have been returning for years, hatching four chicks.
A pair of peregrine falcons has returned to nest on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge again this year, successfully hatching three chicks.
The DNR recently installed an upgraded nesting box at the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, built by area students.
A video news release on falcons and falcon banding at the International Bridge and Portage Lake Lift Bridge are online at https://youtu.be/4DQp0kU4ph4

Another pair of peregrine falcons successfully nested on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, hatching four chicks this year.

During banding operations last month, a member of a Michigan DNR team holds one of the four peregrine falcons chicks that successfully hatched at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge. (IBA photo by Liz Stewart)

“This site has hatched 24 falcon chicks since 2010, when we put in the nest box and started counting,” said International Bridge Engineer Karl Hansen, “There were more before that but we don’t know the number.” Hansen said a falcon cam for the International Bridge is also planned.

Peregrine falcons have also returned to the Portage Lake Lift Bridge between Houghton and Hancock again this year – the same nesting spot, but this year with a choice between new and familiar nests.

The chicks at the International Bridge were banded by a DNR team on June 19, while the Lift Bridge birds were banded on June 23. They were also named. (more…)

Traffic advisory – International Bridge closed to vehicle traffic during annual bridge walk Saturday

June 21, 2017 — The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic during the 31st Annual Bridge Walk and Bicycle Parade Saturday, June 24.

The bridge will close to vehicle traffic at 9:30 a.m. and will reopen at approximately 10:30 a.m. With scaffolding in place for the ongoing Canadian arch painting project, a portion of the bridge is currently restricted to one traffic lane.

More information on the annual bridge walk can be found at http://ssmcoc.com/events/2017/06/24/1425 or http://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

Peter Petainen, International Bridge Administration, 906-635-5255, ext. 137, or
Dan Weingarten, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-4809

Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council Honors the International Bridge Authority with Organization Award

CONTACTS: Joanna I. Johnson, TAMC Chair 269-381-3170 ext. 220 jjohnson@kalamazoocountyroads.com

Roger Belknap, TAMC Coordinator 517-373-2249 belknapr@michigan.gov

May 26, 2017 — The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) has honored the International Bridge Authority (IBA) with the 2017 TAMC Organization Award. The award was presented to Bridge Engineer, Karl Hansen, General Manager Peter Petainen, and Thomas Buckingham of the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority Board of Directors by TAMC Chair Joanna I. Johnson and other members of the council at the annual Transportation Asset Management Conference held yesterday, Thursday, May 25, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

The IBA’s primary responsibility is to operate and manage the 1.9-mile International Bridge structure and international crossing plaza between United States and Canada (more…)

International Bridge board hears project updates

Fast facts:

The Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA) board of directors held its quarterly meeting Thursday.
The board received updates on ongoing and planned bridge maintenance projects.
The bridge’s Canadian arch will be painted using an alternate one-coat technique. Work began May 1 and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.

May 19, 2017 — Meeting Thursday, the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA) board, the bi-national body that supervises operations of the International Bridge, heard updates on several ongoing and planned projects.

The board reviewed progress by the International Bridge Administration (IBA) to replace bridge components and complete painting projects in 2017. Two contracted projects are also underway in 2017.

The Canadian arch painting project was rescheduled to 2017 after higher-than-expected bids in 2016. The arch will be painted using an alternate one-coat technique.

“I’m very pleased to report we signed a contract with Glavin Coating and Refinishing of Zurich, Ontario, for approximately $3.4 million in Canadian dollars,” said Bridge Engineer Karl Hansen. “Glavin mobilized to the work site on May 1 and has begun to erect scaffolding on the bridge.” (more…)

International Bridge board welcomes new member

Fast facts:

The Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA) board of directors welcomed new Canadian member André Girard at its meeting today.
The board consists of eight members, four Michigan members appointed by Gov. Snyder and four Canadian members.
With Girard‘s appointment, all positions on the board are filled.

May 18, 2017 — At today’s Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA) board meeting, the bi-national body that supervises operations of the International Bridge welcomed a new member, André Girard.

Girard was appointed to the board on May 3 by the Federal Bridge Corp. Ltd. (FBCL), the governmental owner of the Canadian bridge assets, for a three-year term. The SSMBA board consists of eight members, four Michigan members appointed by Gov. Snyder and four Canadian members appointed by the FBCL, located in Ottawa, Ontario.

“As chair, I am pleased to welcome André to the Board of the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority,” said SSMBA Chairwoman Micheline Dubé. “I believe that his diverse experience will further enhance the excellent working relationship we have developed with MDOT over the years.”

(more…)