Quote:
Originally Posted by Metro-One
Dude, that sucks! What a loss. All the bridges being replaced in BC are being replaced by larger, more grand structures.
|
It's an impressive structure but massively overbuilt. It is built so high in order to provide clearance for large ocean-going ship if/when there would potentially be an all-Canadian option for the St. Lawrence Seaway that would by-pass the locks on the American side near Massena. However 20 years after the Seaway was built, shipping volumes started to decline and this by-pass is no longer necessary from a political or practical point of view. With the industrial lands below being redeveloped and the deck needing replacement the feds decided to rebuild at a more appropriate scale.
I think it will have a positive impact on the community and help integrate the new development better into the rest of the City (they are redeveloping Brookdale Avenue as well). It will also help link the City better with Cornwall Island with a 400 metre vs 1600 metre crossing distance, although they are still keeping the tolls to get to Cornwall Island because the Federal corporation owning the bridge is self-financing and probably partly because of the native blockade a little while back.