There is renewed talk about the need for a new bridge linking Fort Frances and International Falls.
This time, it is being initiated from Minnesota.
State officials were scheduled to conduct a tour of the International Bridge this week.
The bridge is currently owned by Aazhogan Partnership Limited, a group formed by Rainy River First Nation and the BMI Group.
Speaking at a joint meeting of International Falls council and Koochiching County Board of Commissioners, International Falls Mayor Harley Droba stated the bridge, and its condition were raised during a recent visit from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.
“Speaking with Senator Klobuchar, with the border crossing being changed or being rebuilt, now is a perfect time to start having that conversation. So, literally up until two or three weeks ago, the last conversation that anyone has had on it was that meeting……at the county board meeting or county boardroom. But this just really popped up since the last meeting I had with Senator Klobuchar, and it is moving forward relatively fast,” says Droba.
The U.S. government is in the early stages of building a new border facility at an estimated cost of $25 million.
The project includes reconfiguring the roads leading in and out of Minnesota.
Droba adds that according to a Minnesota Department of Transportation official, there is a lot of political momentum to move on the bridge project, but there is no Canadian partner to help.
The previous Fort Frances council voiced concerns about the bridge when it was being acquired by Aazhogan a few years ago, but those seemed to have eased following its discussions with the group.
Mayor Andrew Hallikas was invited to join the bridge tour.
However, it coincided with council’s strategic planning sessions, and he was not able to take part.
Hallikas tells 93.1 The Border he does plan to meet with Droba soon to get more information.
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