Port Huron, Michigan’s “Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes” in the southern tip of the Thumb, is home to a key link at the U.S.-Canada border.
The two-arch Blue Water Bridge, which includes two spans, is among three international border crossings in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.
In addition to Detroit’s Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, the Blue Water Bridge crosses the St. Clair River, linking Interstate 69 and Interstate 94 in Michigan to Highway 402 in Canada. The crossing connects the cities of Port Huron, Michigan, and the village of Point Edward and city of Sarnia in Ontario, Canada.
A fourth crossing, the International Bridge, links Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in the Upper Peninsula.
Goods moving across the U.S.-Canada border were valued at $398.2 billion in 2020, with $71.5 billion passing across the Blue Water Bridge — the most of any other U.S.-Canada land border, MDOT said.
Here’s what to know about Port Huron’s international border crossing.
Which cities does the Blue Water Bridge connect?
The crossing connects the cities of Port Huron, Michigan, and the village of Point Edward and city of Sarnia in Ontario, Canada.
The bridge features two spans, the original span is a three-lane westbound bridge, and the second span is a three-lane eastbound bridge, according to MDOT.
What’s happening at the Blue Water Bridge?
The Blue Water Bridge Plaza Expansion Project is ongoing and includes changes and improvements to roads around the border crossing, the Port Huron Times Herald reported.
How long is the Blue Water Bridge?
The Blue Water Bridge is 1.17 miles long, according to HistoricBridges.org.
How much does it cost to cross the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron?
Drivers must pay a toll when crossing the Blue Water Bridge, with cost varying by vehicle type.
When crossing from the U.S. into Canada, the toll rate for cars is $4, MDOT’s website says.
Toll rates from Canada into the U.S. include $7 Canadian for passenger vehicles, the Federal Bridge Corporation says.
When did the Blue Water Bridge open?
The Blue Water Bridge opened in October 1938, MDOT said. The second span opened in 1997.
How many travelers cross the Blue Water Bridge each year?
The Blue Water Bridge typically sees 4.5 million vehicular crossings each year, Michigan Blue Magazine reported.
Does the bridge have live cams to watch?
Port Huron Cam offers a live view of traffic on the bridge from atop the Blue Water Convention Center in the U.S.
The Federal Bridge Corporation’s website features traffic cameras with pictures updated every minute of traffic entering and exiting Canada.
What documents do you need to cross the Blue Water Bridge?
You will need to present travel documents to cross the international border. Acceptable options include the following, per MDOT:
What are Michigan’s other international border crossings?
With much of Michigan bordering Canada, the state also features these three border crossings:
The Port Huron Times Herald contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: This Port Huron border crossing ties Michigan to Canada. What to know
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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