Blue Water BridgeProject Update

Michael Szuch, P.E. MDOT

Blue Water Bridge

• Over 5,250,000 vehicles• Busiest commercial crossings on the northern

border

Border Wait Times – Our Biggest Challenge

• Peak Volumes During Summer MonthsMay through SeptemberHoliday/ Special Events

• Wait times (30 minutes to 2+ hours)

What we are trying to avoid…

What we had…

Addressing Concerns

• 2002-2009-Environmental Study to Design and Approve a new U.S. Plaza to alleviate the congestion

$$$$ No Funding $$$$

• 2010-2011- Revised Solution for the U.S. PlazaAlso Stalled $$ No Funding $$

In the Short - Term

• We must improve wait times!

• Creating a unique partnership including:– Blue Water Bridge Canada (BWBC)– Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)– US-CBP– US-GSA

Consider the Constraints• Funding• Land locked - The U. S. Plaza is elevated 25 feet

Solution

• Additional Primary Inspection Lanes– Increase Processing Capacity– Reduce Wait Times

• To include– 3 Stacked Booths– 3 Staggered Booths

Project Details

• Design - Fall of 2011• Let – February 2012• Construction – Spring/Summer 2012• Project costs = $1.5million

Construction

Setting the booths

Schedule Milestones

• First 3 stacked booths open –2012 Memorial Day Holiday

• Next 3 staggered booths open – 2012 Independence Holidays

Stacked BoothsOpened 5/25/12

Staggered BoothsOpened 6/30/12

Challenges

• CBP Statement of Work

• Proprietary Hardware

• IT Configuration and Coordination

IN THE END…We have seen positive outcomes with the project:

•Positive Press as seen here on tollroadsnews.com•Typical wait times under 20 minutes•Compliments from U.S. Customs Management and Staff of the booths themselves•Increased revenue at the Duty Free and Currency Exchange, due to shorter crossing times.

Questions???