Bridge project on track

MASSENA — The five-month-old conflict over the Canadian Customs booth is not delaying plans to replace the north span of the Seaway International Bridge.

At least, not yet.

"It may, if it goes on for years and years," said Andre Girard, spokesman for the Canadian Federal Bridge Corp. "At this point in time, not at all because we're still in the design phase."

The north span of the bridge, which connects Cornwall Island with the Canadian mainland, was built right before construction on the St. Lawrence Seaway began and needs to be replaced. It took years of negotiations before the Federal Bridge Corp., which manages the bridge, and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe settled on an agreement for the construction.

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne still supports the bridge reconstruction, despite disagreements with federal officials about the location of the Customs booth. The two are separate issues, according to tribal officials.

Mohawks are protesting a decision to arm Canada Border Services agents because, they argue, it interferes with their tribal sovereignty. The dispute has been ongoing since May and there have not been any negotiations between the two since September.

"Right now, it's not working too well," Mr. Girard said. "We have no input, we're not consulted at all. We're just the bridge guys."

The agreements between the tribe and the bridge corporation ensure that the tribe will be consulted regarding the placement of intersections, the tribal police station and toll collection, among other things.

The project is in the design phase. The current bridge, which is one of the busiest crossings between Canada and the United States, is 100 feet above the water and becoming too costly to maintain. Upkeep costs more than $1 million a year.

The designs for the replacement have the bridge at least 20 feet above the water instead and it will cut straight across the St. Lawrence River, rather than curving around as the current bridge does.

There are no estimates about when the design phase will be complete and construction will begin. The replacement span will take several years to complete.

"It won't be over until this is resolved because it may affect that part of the design," Mr. Girard said. "If it's solved by Christmas, OK, case closed, it won't affect us."