The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge spans the St. Marys River between the United States and Canada connecting the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The bridge is operated by the International Bridge Administration under the direction of the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority, a bi-national governing body consisting of four directors appointed by the governor of Michigan and four appointed by the Canadian government-owned Federal Bridge Corporation.

Description

left|thumb|The American main span over the [[Soo Locks in 2010]]

left|thumb|The Canadian main span over the [[Sault Ste. Marie Canal in 2025]]

This is a steel truss arch bridge with a suspended deck. There are two separate main spans: a double-arch span on the U.S. side and a single-arch span on the Canadian side, which are joined with a long causeway. The double arch spans cross the four U.S. Soo Locks. The single arch spans the single Canadian Lock. In Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the bridge ends at a city street, Huron Street, in the downtown core. The total length of the bridge approaches .

The bridge serves as the northern terminus of Interstate 75 (I-75). It is also the northern end of the U.S. Bicycle Route 35.

The Sault Sainte Marie Border Crossing connects the cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge. The U.S. Port of Entry was established in 1843, as the cities on each shore of the river grew. Regular ferry service began in 1865, and border inspection services in both the US and Canada were provided at the ferry terminals since the early 1900s. Ferry service ended in 1962 when the International Bridge spanning the river was completed. Railroad trains cross the border on the adjacent Sault Ste. Marie International Railroad Bridge which was built in 1887.

The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge is the tenth-busiest passenger crossing on the Canada–United States border as of 2015. It and the companion rail bridge are the only fixed crossings for several hundred miles in either direction, as the next crossings are the Pigeon River Bridge beyond the far end of Lake Superior, and the Blue Water Bridge beyond the far end of Lake Huron.

Daily operation is carried on by the International Bridge Administration (IBA) under the supervision of the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA). The SSMBA replaced the previous Joint International Bridge Authority (JIBA) in 2009, which in turn had succeeded the International Bridge Authority (IBA, created in 1935) in 2000.

History

thumb|Aerial view of the bridge and the [[Soo Locks in 1992, with Canada at left and the U.S. at right]]

thumb|The road bridge (left) and [[Sault Ste. Marie International Railroad Bridge|the rail bridge (right) in 2013]]

In 1954 the state of Michigan created the International Bridge Authority. Canada followed in 1955, creating the St. Mary's River Co. The bridge construction began in 1960 and officially opened to traffic on October 31, 1962. Contractors included Massman Construction Co. of Kansas City, MO and Bethlehem Steel of Bethlehem, PA.

In 1975, the bridge had its 10 millionth crossing.

Beginning in May 2014, construction work began to completely rebuild the toll plaza/border crossing on the Michigan side of the bridge with an entirely new facility. This was needed to better accommodate truck traffic and meet current capacity. This was completed on October 21, 2015. The 100 millionth crossing occurred on March 1, 2018. on the Michigan side and the Station Mall on the Ontario side.

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File:Sault Ste. Marie International Bridges 2025a.jpg|The bridge viewed from the end of the West Pier in 2025

File:Sault Ste. Marie International Bridges 2025l.jpg|The bridge viewed from Whitefish Island in 2025

File:Sault Ste Marie International Bridge.JPG|Deck of the bridge in 2013

File:International Bridge from S St Marys Island.JPG|Center portion of the bridge in 2006

File:Sault Ste Marie Canal in winter 2.JPG|The bridge in winter in 2013

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See also

  • List of bridges in Canada
  • List of international bridges in North America

References

  • International Bridge Administration
  • International Bridge Photos
  • Announcement of truck route construction by the Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal
  • International Bridge Web Cams

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File:Looking west soo locks international bridge.jpg|Looking west towards the International Bridge from the American Locks administration building

File:International Bridge from Wetland.jpg|International Bridge, from south Whitefish Island

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