Boaters on Rainy Lake will have to prepare for disruptions as CN prepares to do work on the 5-mile lift bridge.
The railway made the announcement through a press release and ad campaign, noting that they were required to make the work public under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act. In the release, CN stated that work would be conducted on the existing railway bridge located at the Mile 84 Fort Frances Subdivision across Rainy Lake at the coordinates 48º 38’ 44.98” N x 93º 18’ 39.99” W, which correlates with the lift bridge near 5-mile Road.
Due to the work being done, the bridge will be required to be in the down position for the duration of the construction period, which CN states is scheduled to last from May 10, 2026, to June 1, 2026.
CN noted that members of the public are able to comment on the impact of the construction through the Minister of Transport.
“CN has deposited information with the Minister of Transport on the online Common Project Search Registry (online Registry available at http://cps.canada.ca/) under Registry NP file Number: 2018-401005,” CN stated.
“Comments regarding the effect of the work on marine navigation can be sent through the Common Project Search site mentioned above under the Comment section (search by the above referenced number). If you do not have access to the internet, comments may be provided in writing (electronic means preferable) not later than 14 days after the publication of this notice directly to the Transport Canada Navigation Protection Program at 100 S Front Street, 1st Floor, Sarnia, Ontario, N7T 2M4, or by email at NPPONT-PPNONT@tc.gc.ca. Please include the NPP file number 2018-401005 in any mailed or emailed correspondence.”
CN does not state what the construction work on the bridge entails, but it comes following a collapse of the bridge in August 2024, which cut off rail ties between Fort Frances and Thunder Bay and blocked marine traffic. The bridge was eventually re-opened to rail traffic in September 2024, but marine traffic had been unable to resume passing through for the remainder of that season.
Bridge will be in lowered position from May 10 to June 1, marine traffic will be impacted
