James Street Swing Bridge

James Street Swing Bridge is a bridge in Thunder Bay.

In Anishinabek News

• December 2013: The bridge was closed following a fire in late October 2013. The Ontario Fire Marshal investigated the fire, which was followed by disturbing comments posted online.
• February 2014: The roadway portion of the bridge was closed on October 29, 2013, following a fire of suspicious origin. As of February 2014, CN officials state the bridge is unsafe for vehicle traffic due to capacity and safety issues. An engineering report and comprehensive assessment of the entire structure is expected to be completed by the end of March 2014.
• June 2014: An act of arson in October 2013 caused significant damage to the structure, resulting in socio-economic fallout for reserve businesses. The damage led to negotiations involving Canadian National Railway, the City of Thunder Bay, and Fort William First Nation.
• February 2015: Under a 1906 Agreement, CN is required to maintain this structure in perpetuity. The closure of the bridge to vehicle traffic has created safety concerns for the members of Fort William First Nation. Fort William First Nation has proposed alternative options including the construction of a new bridge.
• November 2015: The bridge is the subject of an agreement between CN and the City of Thunder Bay. Peter Collins and Don Rusnak discussed the need for a replacement bridge to improve access to Fort William First Nation.
• January 2016: The bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic since late October 2013 following a fire that damaged the structure. While the owner, CN, reopened the bridge to rail traffic three days after the fire, it remains closed to cars as of January 2016. Peter Collins questioned why this structure remains closed while the Nipigon River Bridge was repaired quickly.
• February 2016: The bridge has remained closed to vehicular traffic since a fire damaged the structure in October 2013. A Superior Court judge ordered that Thunder Bay be granted access to the bridge to conduct an engineering inspection. An AECOM report suggested that while fire damage was limited, parts of the roadway do not meet modern safety codes for vehicles and pedestrians.
• April 2016: Chief Peter Collins informed Justin Trudeau that the failure to repair this bridge has caused economic impacts for his community.
• May 2016: The closure of this bridge was cited as a significant transportation barrier for residents seeking employment and services outside their community.
• May 2018: The bridge is the subject of a halftone art piece by Shaun Hedican titled Definitely Racist. The artwork references the contentious local debate regarding whether the structure should be reopened or replaced after being burned.
• October 2018: The bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic since a fire occurred in October 2013. The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway built the structure following a 1906 agreement with the former city of Fort William. A June 2018 court decision ordered Canadian National Railway to reopen the bridge to all vehicle traffic.
• April 2019: As of April 2019, the bridge has been closed for approximately five and a half years. A 1906 agreement requires the bridge to be maintained for two-way vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear an appeal of a decision ordering CN Rail to repair and reopen the structure.
• November 2019: The bridge officially reopened to local vehicle traffic on November 9, 2019, after being closed for more than six years due to a fire. The Court of Appeal ordered CN to repair the structure and uphold a 1906 agreement to keep it open for all vehicles. The reopened bridge has a speed limit of 20 kilometres per hour and a load restriction of 15,000 kilograms.
• December 2022: An environmental stewardship billboard was located just north of this bridge from November 7 to December 5, 2022.