Bridge

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…)

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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…)

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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…)

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Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge celebrates 100 millionth crossing milestone

Fast facts:

  • The International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie celebrated its 100 millionth crossing this morning shortly after 9 a.m.
  • The bridge opened to traffic in 1962 and reached its 10 millionth crossing in 1975.
    As in 1975, the International Bridge Administration (IBA) recognized one bridge crosser from each direction and presented them with a selection of local gifts.
  • March 1, 2018 — The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge marked a major milestone today as the 100 millionth traveler crossed the span between Michigan and Ontario.

The International Bridge is the only vehicular crossing between Ontario and Michigan within a 300-mile distance. (more…)

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