Traffic on the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie hit a nine-year high in 2011, with nearly two million crossings, although truck traffic was down.
According to figures from International Bridge Administration (IBA), total crossings for the year were 1,998,068, up 9.27 per cent from the previous year.
Automobile traffic was up 6.3 per cent, commuter fare traffic was up 14.4 per cent, and commercial truck traffic was down 3.7 per cent, compared to 2010 totals. Dec. 22 marked the second-busiest day of the year.
Truck traffic continued a downward trend, which began in 2005, with the lowest annual number of crossings (95,900) since 1993.
“We monitor truck traffic trends very closely, and in 2011 commercial trucks made up 4.9 per cent of total traffic,” IBA general manager Phil Becker said in a news release. “Clearly there are significant factors affecting cross-border traffic at play, such as the continued sluggish U.S. economy and the strong Canadian dollar.”
Toll revenue was $7.34 million (USD), an increase of 7.4 per cent since 2010, while operation, maintenance and repairs totalled $5.27 million, a slight decrease from the 2010 budget.
“Our goal is to build up our financial reserves for a series of bridge painting, concrete deck rehabilitation, and toll plaza projects needed within the next 15 years that are estimated to cost nearly $50 million (USD), Becker said in the release.
Tolls and fees collected at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bride are the only sources of funding for the operation, maintenance and repair of the bridge and toll plaza. The IBA does not receive any state, federal, or provincial funding for bridge operation, maintenance and repair.
.jpeg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
