View source for Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge

{{Short description|Bridge connecting Canada and the United States}}{{About-distinguish|the road bridge|Sault Ste. Marie International Railroad Bridge}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox bridge
| bridge_name = Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge
| image = Sault Ste. Marie International Bridges 2025v.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = The bridge from the American side in 2025
| carries = Two lanes of traffic ({{jct|state=MI|I|75|Tour|LSCT|Tour|LHCT}})
| crosses = [[St. Marys River (Michigan–Ontario)|St. Marys River]]
| locale = [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan]] – [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]]
| design = [[truss arch bridge]]
| mainspan = 132 m
| length = {{convert|2.8 |mi|km}}<ref name="ml" />
| width = {{convert|28|ft|m}}
| below = {{convert|124|ft|m}}
| traffic = 7,000 vehicles daily (average), 10,000 vehicles daily (peak)
| open = October 31, 1962
| toll = US$4.50, C$6.30<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.saultbridge.com/toll-rates-auto/ |title = Toll Rates (Auto) |publisher = International Bridge Administration |access-date = October 7, 2025 }}</ref>
| map_cue = 
| map_image = 
| map_text = 
| map_width = 
| coordinates = {{coord|46.50703|-84.36132|display=inline,title}}
}}

The '''Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge''' spans the [[St. Marys River (Michigan–Ontario)|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]].<ref name="ml">{{cite news |last1 = Champion |first1 = Brandon |title = 100 million travelers have crossed the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge |url = http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/03/100_million_travelers_have_cro.html |access-date = March 1, 2018 |work = MLive.com |date = March 1, 2018 }}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Soo Locks International Bridge 2010-04 USACE.jpg|left|thumb|The American main span over the [[Soo Locks]] in 2010]]
[[File:Sault Ste. Marie International Bridges 2025k.jpg|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 [[Sault Ste. Marie Canal|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 {{convert|2.8|mi|km}}.

The bridge serves as the northern terminus of [[Interstate 75 in Michigan|Interstate 75]] (I-75). It is also the northern end of the [[U.S. Bicycle Route 35]].<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=2025 |title=U.S. Bicycle Routes |url=https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/travel/safety/road-users/bicycling/us-bicycle-routes |access-date=June 19, 2025 |publisher=[[Michigan Department of Transportation]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= |date=2025 |title=USBR 35 MI northbound |url=https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26834033 |access-date=June 19, 2025 |publisher=Ride with GPS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= |date=2016 |title=Biking on Major Bridges |url=http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9615_11223-22759--,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626072557/http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9615_11223-22759--,00.html |archive-date=June 26, 2021 |access-date=March 24, 2016 |publisher=[[Michigan Department of Transportation]]}}</ref> 

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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hansen |first1=Karl |title=The History of the Ferry |url=http://www.saultbridge.com/stories/the-history-of-the-ferry/ |access-date=August 19, 2018 |publisher=Saultbridge.com |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522041317/http://www.saultbridge.com/stories/the-history-of-the-ferry/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>  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.<ref name="clui2">{{Cite web |date=Winter 2015 |title=Chapter 4: The Watery Boundary |url=http://www.clui.org/section/united-divide-a-linear-portrait-usacanada-border-3 |website=United Divide: A Linear Portrait of the USA/Canada Border |publisher=The Center for Land Use Interpretation}}</ref> It and the companion rail bridge are the only fixed crossings for several hundred miles in either direction, as the next crossings are the [[Grand Portage–Pigeon River Border Crossing|Pigeon River Bridge]] beyond the far end of [[Lake Superior]], and the [[Blue Water Bridge]] beyond the far end of [[Lake Huron]].<ref name="clui">{{Cite web |url = http://www.clui.org/section/united-divide-a-linear-portrait-usacanada-border-3 |title = Chapter 4: The Watery Boundary |website = United Divide: A Linear Portrait of the USA/Canada Border |publisher = The Center for Land Use Interpretation |date = Winter 2015 }}</ref>

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==
[[File:Soo_Locks-Sault-Ste_Marie.png|thumb|Aerial view of the bridge and the [[Soo Locks]] in 1992, with Canada at left and the U.S. at right]]
[[File:International road and rail bridges 2.JPG|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.<ref name="IBA">{{cite book |author=Staff |title=The International Bridge |publisher=International Bridge Authority of Michigan |year=1963 |location=S.I.}}{{full citation needed|date=April 2012}}</ref>  The bridge construction began in 1960 and officially opened to traffic on October 31, 1962.<ref name="ml" /><ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |date=September 12, 2008 |title=Bridge Facts & Trivia |url=http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9618_48384-30286--,00.html |access-date=September 5, 2010 |publisher=[[Michigan Department of Transportation]]}}</ref>  Contractors included Massman Construction Co. of Kansas City, MO and [[Bethlehem Steel]] of Bethlehem, PA.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Bridge Construction Contracts |url=https://www.saultbridge.com/photos/bridge-construction-contracts/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |publisher=International Bridge Administration}}</ref> 

In 1975, the bridge had its 10 millionth crossing.<ref name="ml"/>

Beginning in 1987, an annual [[International Bridge Walk]] has been held on the last Saturday in June, starting on the Michigan side, with participants finishing in Ontario.

On June 6, 2005, the Ontario government announced a construction project to build a dedicated truck bypass route to connect the bridge to [[Ontario Highway 17|Highway 17]] in the north end of the city. The city had lobbied for this for some time, since the bridge's terminus at a city street was viewed by many residents of the city as a safety concern; however, the bridge terminus itself cannot be easily relocated due to the already highly urbanized nature of the Sault, Ontario waterfront. The truck route, known as Carmen's Way in memory of the city's former federal [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|MP]] [[Carmen Provenzano]], was officially opened in September 2006.

Construction work commenced in 2009 on a project to expand and modernize the Canadian bridge plaza, including a larger [[Canada Border Services Agency]] building with improved truck inspection facilities and a dedicated route to take trucks directly to Carmen's Way, thereby eliminating the need for trucking traffic to enter Huron Street.<ref>{{cite news |last = Ross |first = Ian |url = http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Industry-News/government/Expansion-of-Sault-bridge-plaza-begins-this-fall665.aspx |title = Expansion of Sault bridge plaza begins this fall |work = [[Northern Ontario Business]] |date = September 4, 2009 |access-date = April 18, 2012 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Industry-News/transportation/2014/05/Michigan-Soo-breaks-ground-on-toll-plaza.aspx |title = Michigan Soo breaks ground on toll plaza |work = Northern Ontario Business |date = May 16, 2014 }}</ref> This was completed on October 21, 2015.<ref>{{cite press release |first = Peter |last = Petainen |date = October 16, 2015 |url = https://www.saultbridge.com/capital-construction/iba-plaza-construction-2014/sault-ste-marie-international-bridge-marks-new-era-of-service-with-toll-plaza-open-house/ |title = Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge Marks New Era of Service with Toll Plaza Open House |publisher = International Bridge Administration |access-date = January 6, 2025 }}</ref> The 100 millionth crossing occurred on March 1, 2018.<ref name="ml" />

The International Bridge Bus was operated by the CLM Community Action Agency (CLMCAA) of Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. Bridge bus border crossings by CLMCAA ceased in March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 border restrictions between Canada and the U.S.{{cn|date=June 2025}} Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the bridge bus crossed hourly from 8:00 am to 4:00&nbsp;pm on weekdays serving both downtown areas and [[Lake Superior State University]]<ref>{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Simplify Travel between the Twin Saults |url=http://www.lssu.edu/ihopbridge/ |access-date=March 24, 2016 |publisher=Lake Superior State University}}</ref> on the Michigan side and the [[Station Mall]] on the Ontario side.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Sault International Bridge Bus |url=http://www.clmcaa.com/transport.html |access-date=March 24, 2016 |publisher=Community Action Agency Human Resource Authority}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
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
</gallery>

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|Transport}}
* {{Portal-inline|Engineering}}
* {{Portal-inline|Michigan}}
* {{Portal-inline|Ontario}}
* [[List of bridges in Canada]]
* [[List of international bridges in North America]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.saultbridge.com/ International Bridge Administration]
*[http://www.historicbridges.org/other/international/index.htm International Bridge Photos]
*[http://www.pir.gov.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/cma_4_42178_1.html Announcement of truck route construction by the Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.saultbridge.com International Bridge Web Cams]
*{{Structurae|20000515}}
<gallery widths=200px>
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
</gallery>
{{Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan}}
{{SaultOntario}}
{{Upper Peninsula of Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bicyclable bridges on the Interstate Highway System]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1962]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]]
[[Category:Canada–United States bridges]]
[[Category:Interstate 75]]
[[Category:Lake Superior Circle Tour]]
[[Category:Lake Huron Circle Tour]]
[[Category:Road bridges in Michigan]]
[[Category:Road bridges in Ontario]]
[[Category:Sault Ste. Marie]]
[[Category:St. Marys River (Michigan–Ontario)]]
[[Category:Through arch bridges in Canada]]
[[Category:Through arch bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Toll bridges in Canada]]
[[Category:Toll bridges in Michigan]]
[[Category:Tolled sections of Interstate Highways]]
[[Category:Transportation in Chippewa County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Truss bridges in Canada]]
[[Category:Truss bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Steel bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Steel bridges in Canada]]