International Avenue Bridge
Encyclopedia
The International Avenue Bridge is an international bridge
across the St. Croix River
, connecting the town of St. Stephen
, New Brunswick
in Canada
with the town of Calais
, Maine
in the United States
.
Opened on November 16, 2009, it is the third bridge connecting the two communities, in addition to the Ferry Point International Bridge and the Milltown International Bridge
. The International Avenue Bridge serves commercial, cargo, trucking
, passenger vehicles, campers, RVs, buses and other heavy and through traffic, while both the Ferry Point and Milltown crossings remain in use for passenger vehicles and local traffic.
Although both facilities began actual operations with the bridge opening on November 16, 2009, the United States Customs facility in Calais was officially opened by Senator Susan Collins
on November 23, while the Canada Customs
facility in St. Stephen was officially opened by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
on January 8, 2010. The new bridge represents the first new border crossing between the US and Canada in almost 40 years.
segment of New Brunswick Route 1
, which extends from St. Stephen to Waweig
. From there, the route narrows into a two-lane highway for 58 kilometres to Lepreau, where it again widens into a freeway for the remainder of its route, until ending at an interchange with New Brunswick Route 2
, the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway
, at River Glade
near Moncton. Construction began in 2010 to upgrade the segment between Waweig and Lepreau to four lanes.
In Maine, the bridge connects to Maine State Route 9
, linking it to Interstate 95
at Bangor
.
International Bridge
The following bridges are known as the International Bridge:*International Railway Bridge, a railroad bridge at Buffalo, New York*Baudette-Rainy River International Bridge, connecting Rainy River, Ontario and Baudette, Minnesota...
across the St. Croix River
St. Croix River (Maine-New Brunswick)
The St. Croix River is a river in northeastern North America, in length, that forms part of the Canada – United States border between Maine and New Brunswick . The river rises in the Chiputneticook Lakes and flows south and southeast, between Calais and St. Stephen...
, connecting the town of St. Stephen
St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River at .-Climate:...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with the town of Calais
Calais, Maine
Calais is a city in Washington County, Maine, United States. The city has three United States border crossings or also known as a Port of entry with the busiest being on the St. Croix River bordering St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Opened on November 16, 2009, it is the third bridge connecting the two communities, in addition to the Ferry Point International Bridge and the Milltown International Bridge
Milltown International Bridge
The Milltown International Bridge is an international bridge, which connects St. Stephen, New Brunswick in Canada and Calais, Maine in the United States, across the St. Croix River....
. The International Avenue Bridge serves commercial, cargo, trucking
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
, passenger vehicles, campers, RVs, buses and other heavy and through traffic, while both the Ferry Point and Milltown crossings remain in use for passenger vehicles and local traffic.
History
The bridge received approval in 2006.Although both facilities began actual operations with the bridge opening on November 16, 2009, the United States Customs facility in Calais was officially opened by Senator Susan Collins
Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins is the junior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1996, she is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs...
on November 23, while the Canada Customs
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency was a department of the government of Canada and existed from November 1, 1999 until December 12, 2003. It was created from the merging of the Department of National Revenue with Canada Customs....
facility in St. Stephen was officially opened by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
on January 8, 2010. The new bridge represents the first new border crossing between the US and Canada in almost 40 years.
Connecting routes
On the New Brunswick side, the bridge connects to a new four-lane expresswayLimited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
segment of New Brunswick Route 1
New Brunswick Route 1
Route 1 is an important highway in the southern part of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It begins in the west from the Canada-United States border at St. Stephen, and runs east for to Route 2 at River Glade....
, which extends from St. Stephen to Waweig
Waweig, New Brunswick
Waweig is a Canadian rural community in Charlotte County, New Brunswick....
. From there, the route narrows into a two-lane highway for 58 kilometres to Lepreau, where it again widens into a freeway for the remainder of its route, until ending at an interchange with New Brunswick Route 2
New Brunswick Route 2
Route 2 is a major provincial highway in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, carrying the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway in the province...
, the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
, at River Glade
River Glade, New Brunswick
River Glade is a Canadian rural community in Westmorland County, New Brunswick....
near Moncton. Construction began in 2010 to upgrade the segment between Waweig and Lepreau to four lanes.
In Maine, the bridge connects to Maine State Route 9
Maine State Route 9
State Route 9 is a numbered state highway in Maine, running from the New Hampshire border at Berwick in the west to the Canadian border with New Brunswick at Calais in the east. State Route 9 runs a total of .-Route description:...
, linking it to Interstate 95
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
at Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
.