THUNDER BAY – City of Thunder Bay officials say they remain committed to finding a solution to re-open the James Street Swing Bridge to vehicular traffic and applaud Fort William First Nation leadership for working to make it happen.
In a release issued on Tuesday, city manager Norm Gale said they were told Fort William First Nation in recent days submitted a proposal to CN Railway, which owns the Kaministiquia River span, to make the necessary repairs to allow vehicles to traverse the bridge again.
The James Street Swing Bridge was closed to vehicular traffic after an October 2013 fire and the railway later won a judgment in court that absolved it of upkeep responsibilities laid out in a 1906 agreement when the bridge was first built.
The courts ruled the railway did not have to maintain the bridge for vehicles in perpetuity, as the agreement stated.
The city appealed the decision in the Ontario Court of Appeal on Jan. 24 and a decision is expected in two to four months.
Gale said the city has yet to hear back from CN about the newly submitted concept or its feasibility, adding the city remains open to working with all interested parties to get the bridge reopened to traffic.
Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs said reopening the bridge is a win-win for both communities.
“In 2011, the city declared its commitment to work collaboratively with FWFN on outstanding issues that are to our mutual benefit. The reopening of the James Street Bridge fits squarely within what is a ‘mutual benefit’ to both of our communities. We remain open to speaking with CN Railway on how we can reopen this critical point of access between FWFN and the city. Council is pleased to offer this statement of support for FWFN’s efforts,” Hobbs said in the release.
