U.S. toll booth to open by month’s end

The International Bridge and Terminal Company confirmed yesterday a toll booth on the U.S. side of the international bridge here will start collecting tolls for northbound traffic by the end of the month.
The booth on the Canadian side will collect tolls from southbound vehicles but it is expected to be closed by the fall, when the U.S. booth will collect tolls for traffic entering Canada only.
An increase in toll fares is being studied but I.B. & T. Co. general manager Gerry Neumann would not reveal by how much, or when a hike would be implemented. Neumann did comment on reports a $20 (U.S.) swipe card would be implemented in the fall which would be good for 10 trips, an increase over the current tickets which are sold for $9 (Cdn.) and can be used for 15 one way trips.
But he did stress there would continue to be a reduced rate for local commuters crossing the bridge.
In the interim, current bridge tickets will continue to be sold.
There also are plans to introduce “smart card” technology down the road, he said.
The toll changes are being phased in to reduce traffic congestion on the bridge, particularly during the summer months.
“Canada Customs has always contended that there’s a delay,” said Neumann. “I don’t think there’s going to be any congestion,” he added.
But the changes have some Fort Frances residents worried.
“I’m concerned it’s going to be another intervention for those coming to Canada from the States, it’s alarming,” said Paul Noonan, co-owner of La Place Rendez-Vous here.
Mayor Glenn Witherspoon was approached by those involved in the project and said he also expressed some concern about the changes.
“I was quite upset that it was moving to Minnesota,” he said. “I’m not happy with it and I’m sure other people here aren’t, either.”
But the project is not under municipal jurisdiction as it is jointly owned by Abitibi-Consolidated through the I.B. & T. Co. and Boise Cascade Corp. through M.D.&W. Railway.
For some, a one-way toll isn’t as much a concern as the potential for a rate increase.
“It might be easier, you have to go back and forth anyway. Where we have concern is if the cost goes up,” said Business Improvement Area chair Dan Cousineau.
“I don’t think the people in the Falls would be too happy about it, either. Obviously, we won’t like it and we’ll voice our concerns,” said Cousineau.
Neumann did not confirm or deny an increase, saying discussions and economic assessments continue before a final decision can be made. He noted a number of costly structural repairs have been made on the bridge, with more repairs planned.
Then there’s the cost of the proposed new Canada Customs facility here.
“We have to paint the bridge again,” said Neumann, “We recently had some underwater inspections and some work will have to be done on the pilings.
“We haven’t made any decisions. I’m not going to sit and make a statement until a full economic impact has been assessed,” he stressed.
But the strategic planning committee of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce already has discussed possible plans to compensate for any toll increases.
“Should there be a one-way toll, we talked about [any U.S. customers spending] more than $15-$20 [here] would get their toll back. We don’t want to stop the flow,” said Chamber president Tony Beyak.
“Most of them that come over here spend a little over $100 U.S.,” he added.
Kallie Briggs, executive director of the International Falls Chamber of Commerce, agreed an increase would affect cross-border traffic. “If the toll is to go up, it’s going to have an effect going both ways,” she noted.
“I need to find out more about it, sometimes change is good. It would definitely be discussed at the next Chamber board meeting,” she added.
Meanwhile, a number of jobs at the Canadian toll booth will be affected by the fall closure but Neumann would not reveal any details yesterday.
“I think that the handling of the employees is between the employees and the employer but they will be treated fairly within the confines of the law,” he said.
“We’ll look after any Abitibi employees,” pledged Jim Gartshore, general manager of the Abitibi-Consolidated mill here. “But contracts [part-timers] are treated differently than regular employees.”