RAINY RIVER – “The new Rainy River-Baudette International Bridge will be an important connection and will serve the people of northwestern Ontario well. Ontario is a world leader in moving people and goods safely, efficiently and sustainably and this new bridge will help us ensure we remain a world leader,” says The Honourable Michael Gravelle, Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Member of Provincial Parliament for Thunder Bay—Superior North, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation.
Modern and efficient roadways are crucial to encouraging and supporting economic activity, facilitating trade, and creating good paying, middle class jobs. The governments of Canada and Ontarioare investing in well-planned infrastructure that will make it easier to move people and products across the country, while supporting sustained economic growth and productivity for years to come.
Don Rusnak, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay— Rainy River, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, were in Rainy River Thursday to announce over $13 million in federal funding for a joint Canada–USA project to replace the Rainy River-Baudette International Bridge, through the Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Fund. The Government of Ontario is responsible for all remaining costs for the Canadian portion of the investment. The international bridge is located at the Canada – United States border on Highway 11 in Rainy River, Ontario, and on the Minnesota Trunk Highway 72 in Baudette, Minnesota.
The project involves the design and construction of a new bridge and the removal of the existing bridge, which is at the end of its service life. The new bridge will include widened lanes and shoulders, guide rails, a sidewalk, and an improved load capacity.
This initiative will improve road safety and efficiency, while also supporting tourism and the movement of people and goods between Canada and the United States. As well, the existing load restrictions will be removed and the bridge will be able to receive higher volumes of commercial traffic, which will support future economic development.
