
Bridge To Canada For Sale AP \|\| March 20, 2006 Despite the jokes about the one in Brooklyn, bridges don't go up for sale that often. But there's one on the block now, and it's an important one -- the toll bridge that connects this border city to Fort Frances, Ontario, and logs more than 900,000 crossings a year between the two countries. "Anywhere else, you would never find an international bridge for sale," said Patti Ballan, who runs a furniture store on the U.S. side of the border, while her husband works as a bush pilot on the Canadian side. Some are worried that new private owners could let the bridge -- it's actually two connected bridges -- deteriorate, or could hike tolls. Current tolls, collected only on northbound traffic, are $6 per car, more for trucks, but officials on both sides of the border wouldn't mind if the tolls were scrapped altogether. "We absolutely want to see it go into public hands," said Fort Frances Mayor Dan Onichuk. "It's the main channel for northwestern Ontario for Canadians going into the States and vice versa." There are other privately owned bridges around the country -- in fact, the one in question has been owned by paper-making companies since the first span was built in 1908. But now, the new owners of Boise Cascade want to sell the 949-foot structure, and Canadian co-owners Abitibi Consolidated agreed. But local officials on both sides of the border are meeting with federal, state and provincial office-holders to see how the public could take over. "It's a critical piece of infrastructure for the two communities, (which) feel joined at the hip," said Rod Otterness, International Falls city administrator. "Unlike eastern turnpikes, we have a philosophical preference that there not be a toll." Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com The two cities -- Fort Frances with about 9,000 people, and International Falls with about 6,700, have been close neighbors for years. Residents have crossed the bridge across the Rainy River for generations to go to jobs, church, stores, visit friends and relatives and attend hockey games. The curling club is in Ontario, the movie theater in Minnesota. Emergency services on both sides back each other up, and color guards march in each other's July parades. The state Department of Transportation said the bridge has been well-maintained, but the 1908 road and rail span probably has only about 15 to 20 years of life left. A replacement would cost about $8 million, the agency said. A two-lane second span built in 1979 is in better shape. No price for the bridge has been set, Boise Cascade spokesman Bob Anderson said. One private company, which owns a bridge between Detroit, Mich., and Windsor, Ontario, is said to be interested in the Rainy River bridge. Dan Stamper, president of that company, said there have not yet been discussions but "I'd be glad to talk to them." The bridge is the only highway crossing between Baudette, 70 miles by road to the west on the U.S. side, and Pigeon River, near Lake Superior. It's popular enough that, on summer weekends traffic can back up two to three hours, Ballan said. Ballan said in the summer, she avoids using the bridge on Fridays and Mondays. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Bridge To Canada For Sale

AP || March 20, 2006

Despite the jokes about the one in Brooklyn, bridges don't go up for sale that often. But there's one on the block now, and it's an important one -- the toll bridge that connects this border city to Fort Frances, Ontario, and logs more than 900,000 crossings a year between the two countries.

"Anywhere else, you would never find an international bridge for sale," said Patti Ballan, who runs a furniture store on the U.S. side of the border, while her husband works as a bush pilot on the Canadian side.

Some are worried that new private owners could let the bridge -- it's actually two connected bridges -- deteriorate, or could hike tolls. Current tolls, collected only on northbound traffic, are $6 per car, more for trucks, but officials on both sides of the border wouldn't mind if the tolls were scrapped altogether.

"We absolutely want to see it go into public hands," said Fort Frances Mayor Dan Onichuk. "It's the main channel for northwestern Ontario for Canadians going into the States and vice versa."

There are other privately owned bridges around the country -- in fact, the one in question has been owned by paper-making companies since the first span was built in 1908. But now, the new owners of Boise Cascade want to sell the 949-foot structure, and Canadian co-owners Abitibi Consolidated agreed.

But local officials on both sides of the border are meeting with federal, state and provincial office-holders to see how the public could take over.

"It's a critical piece of infrastructure for the two communities, (which) feel joined at the hip," said Rod Otterness, International Falls city administrator. "Unlike eastern turnpikes, we have a philosophical preference that there not be a toll."

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

The two cities -- Fort Frances with about 9,000 people, and International Falls with about 6,700, have been close neighbors for years. Residents have crossed the bridge across the Rainy River for generations to go to jobs, church, stores, visit friends and relatives and attend hockey games.

The curling club is in Ontario, the movie theater in Minnesota. Emergency services on both sides back each other up, and color guards march in each other's July parades.

The state Department of Transportation said the bridge has been well-maintained, but the 1908 road and rail span probably has only about 15 to 20 years of life left. A replacement would cost about $8 million, the agency said.

A two-lane second span built in 1979 is in better shape.

No price for the bridge has been set, Boise Cascade spokesman Bob Anderson said.

One private company, which owns a bridge between Detroit, Mich., and Windsor, Ontario, is said to be interested in the Rainy River bridge. Dan Stamper, president of that company, said there have not yet been discussions but "I'd be glad to talk to them."

The bridge is the only highway crossing between Baudette, 70 miles by road to the west on the U.S. side, and Pigeon River, near Lake Superior. It's popular enough that, on summer weekends traffic can back up two to three hours, Ballan said.

Ballan said in the summer, she avoids using the bridge on Fridays and Mondays.

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