Blue Water Bridge July 19, 2016 BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie IrwinBlue Water Bridge July 19, 2016 BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin
Sarnia

American Bridge Repairs East And West

Another multi-million dollar repair job has been announced for the Blue Water Bridge.

Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) spokesperson Jocelyn Hall says $8.3-million in steel and painting repairs will be done on the American side of the eastbound span, coming into Canada.

"This project will address any steel corrosion and paint repairs required from the U.S. plaza through the mid-span of the eastbound lanes," says Hall.

New sealant will also be applied to protect the concrete.

She says the work area will be covered in canvas just like the westbound span was in 2016.

It's expected the project will take over a year to complete, starting June 11, with intermittent single and double lane closures during daytime hours (7am to 4pm) through October.

Hall says contractors will cease their work then and pick up again in the spring with a plan to complete the project in the fall of 2019.

A $3.6-million steel repair job on the American side of the westbound span started this past Monday.

Meantime, The Federal Bridge Corporation, which is in charge of the Canadian side of the spans, has an active maintenance painting program.

Spokesperson Andre Girard says rather than repainting the entire structure, they do what's required every year to maintain the span.

The westbound span is the original bridge that was built over the St. Clair River in 1938.

The second span which brings motorists into Canada opened in 1997.

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