FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION, Ont. - With the Ministry of Transportation seeking input on possible detour options for work that is expected to begin on Highway 61 next year, leaders with Fort William First Nation say all options are a moot point, because no matter what is decided, the community will still be in the same situation it has been in for the last four years.
“We are going to be in a crisis state again,” said Fort William First Nation Chief, Peter Collins. “Once they close Highway 61 who is going to deal with the emergency response in our community?”
“When you see a little accident on Highway 61 now, traffic is backed up for 45 minutes to an hour,” Collins continued. “Can you imagine when they close that and detour us around in to our community and the safety aspects of it? Maybe it will be time for us to remove everything from the bridge [swing bridge] and start using it.”
Repairs to the Canadian Pacific Railway overpass near the Thunder Bay International Airport, as well as the Rossyln Road Bridge and two Canadian National Railway overpasses is expected to begin in 2018.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Transportation held a public consultation meeting to gain input on possible detour options. Options included detouring traffic down Arthur Street to the 20th Side Road and then down Broadway Avenue or Rossyln Road, as well as using Highway 11/17 and Highway 130.
The option that received the most support would see work being done on the highway at night, allowing the portion of highway between the airport and Broadway Avenue to remain open during the day.
But Collins said that does little to help the people of Fort William First Nation or the businesses located in the community.
“They want to do it 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.,” he said. “The traffic that still comes into our community, the business that still comes into our community from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at night is still going to have an impact on us. I don’t know if that is the right solution.”
Collins added that the right solution is to get the James Street Swing Bridge retrofitted to allow for vehicular traffic again.
The James Street Swing Bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic following a fire on Oct. 29, 2013. The issue of who is responsible for repairing and maintaining the bridge was the subject of a court case between the city of Thunder Bay and the Canadian National Railway. That case was lost by the city, with a judge ruling the CNR is not responsible for reopening the bridge.
The city announced its plans to appeal that decision and it will be heard again in the Ontario Court of Appeal on Jan. 24, 2018.
“Fort William is still in the predicament four years ago when the bridge burnt,” Collins said. “I think the outcome of any judge rendering on January 24 will still be appealed and we are still going to be in the predicament we are.”
Collins added that he has spoken with both federal and provincial ministers on finding solutions to the situation but little has been done. With upcoming work on Highway 61, Collins said he is very concerned for the people of Fort William First Nation, especially in an emergency situation.
