Causeway open to marine traffic again, but fear for what's next remains

For the first time in months, the LaSalle Causeway is fully open to marine navigation.

After initial projections from Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) promised the waters would be navigable by June 30, businesses who have been impacted by the inability to travel past the Causeway were happily surprised to hear that as of noon on Thursday boats could once again pass through.

In a statement, PSPC says the contractor who is handling the demolition has been working tirelessly to try and ensure navigation returns in a timely fashion.

"PSPC has been working closely with Priestly Demolition Inc., which has engaged specialized teams that have been working 12-hour shifts daily to expedite the Bascule Bridge demolition," the statement from PSPC read.

"As a result, the demolition and removal of the bridge structure has been progressing ahead of schedule. We can now confirm that the LaSalle Causeway is fully open for marine navigation as of 12 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) on June 20."

That's huge news for St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, whose only ship 'The Canadian Empress' has been stranded for months and has now been able to pass through the Causeway in preparation for accepting passengers.

Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises, another cruise line in the area with a fleet of three, has been able to use one of their three boats all season in spite of the construction, and by making alterations to their boat 'The Island Star' midway through Spring were able to have it pass through the fixed portion of the bridge.

Eric Ferguson, the General Manager of Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises, says they were notified by PSPC about an hour before the official announcement that marine navigation could once again be open on Wednesday afternoon, and that the third and final boat of their fleet would pass through the Causeway on Friday.

After months of turmoil, he says it's nice to hear some good news on this front.

"We're very glad that the federal contractor that's working on that project was able to exceed their initial timeline," Ferguson said.

"So today is a good news day."

However, Ferguson said while it's a positive development for now, there is already concern for what's next.

In PSPC's update, they say a plan continues to be developed partnership with the City of Kingston to reinstate access for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians on a temporary bridge, while also working on the permanent replacement.

While obviously that temporary solution is necessary, Ferguson fears that PSPC is preparing to propose a solution that caps the now open section of the Causeway with a fixed, immovable structure.

He says that will contravene the Canadian Navigable Waters Act.

"We believe that they are still considering a non-dynamic, fixed, immovable temporary bridge that would block off the Cataraqui River, the Rideau Canal, and the Inner Harbor of Kingston from basically all commercial navigation for a period of months or years," Ferguson said.

"That can't happen... There is no way any person in Canada should be contemplating obstructing a navigable waterway, certainly no person in government."

Ferguson says however that cruise lines, ferries and others who would be directly impacted by a structure blocking navigation are willing to work with some flexibility, sacrificing a few days if needed so work can be completed.

Removing access for long periods of time however, isn't an acceptable direction, and he says there's better solutions available.

Ferguson says the project could be made more simplistic by considering two factors: size and frequency.

"Why do we have a 140-foot-wide dynamic bridge in Kingston? It doesn't have to be that big," Ferguson said.

"The temporary structure that they put in place should consist of three segments, and only the middle segment needs to move... in order to maintain a reasonable definition of a navigable waterway, it does not need to lift as often as the bridge that we're used to in Kingston. It doesn't need to lift several times per day."

According to Ferguson, PSPC is still asking companies like Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises and St. Lawrence Cruise Lines to compromise.

He says they're willing to do so, but that keeping the waterway navigable has to be fundamental to any conversation around construction.

"I think another reasonable thing to talk about here is that the fact that the waterway has to remain navigable is the beginning of any discussion," Ferguson said.

"That principle has to be the starting point for any conversation."

He says if not, PSPC will have to be prepared to put some companies out of business who rely on navigating through the channel.

PSPC has not returned comment confirming whether they are considering an immovable temporary bridge, or whether the suggestions proposed by Ferguson would be feasible in their eyes.

As for now, its business as usual for ships passing through the Causeway.

Owen Fullerton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, YGK News