Emergency Direction – Safety – International Bridges and Tunnels

(expired on October 13, 2016)

No. 2016-02              

Whereas I am an officer of the Department of Transport authorized to make any direction that the Minister may make under section 17 of the International Bridges and Tunnels Act;

Whereas the current condition of most of the concrete curb and railing of the Ambassador Bridge from the abutment of the bridge adjacent to the Canadian customs plaza to the Canadian tower adjacent to the suspended span is such that it would not  deflect traffic back onto the bridge should traffic impact such curb and railing;

Whereas I am of the opinion that such condition is an immediate threat to the safety of the Ambassador Bridge;

And whereas I am of the opinion that the measures set out in the annexed emergency direction are appropriate to respond to the threat;

Therefore, pursuant to section 17 of the International Bridges and Tunnels Act, I hereby make the annexed emergency direction.

Dated at Ottawa, Ontario, this 13 day of September, 2016.

Brigitte Diogo
Director General, Rail Safety

Direction

I hereby direct that the Canadian Transit Company shall cause a temporary barrier system made of concrete or steel, or a combination of both, to be installed on the locations set out in items 1 and 2 and in the manner set out in item 3:

1. on the Canadian-bound westernmost lane of the Ambassador Bridge from the abutment of the bridge adjacent to the Canadian custom plaza to the Canadian tower adjacent to the suspended span;
2. on the United States-bound easternmost lane of the Ambassador Bridge from the abutment of the bridge adjacent to the Canadian custom plaza to the Canadian anchorage adjacent to the truss spans; and
3. the installation of the temporary barrier system must be in done in accordance with sound engineering principles.

Duration of Directive

As stated in section 19 of the Act, this direction comes into force immediately but ceases to have force 30 days after it is made, unless it is repealed before the expiry of 30 days.

Emergency Direction No. 2016-01 issued on September 2, 2016 is repealed.