Representatives from both sides of the border continue to hold talks regarding the International Bridge linking Fort Frances and International Falls.
A recent hike in tolls last fall brought officials together.
Their recent meeting was at Manitou Mounds.
International Falls Mayor Harley Droba says they have broken into two groups, looking at short-term and long-term solutions.
“I am sitting on the short-term solution group, which is how do we get the fares down for local folks working with the owners of the bridge and the federal government to try to help alleviate some of that financial cost for the folks that are crossing the bridge,” says Droba.
The long-term solution groups had a direct eye on the future of the bridge’s ownership.
“The long-term vision….is about how do we work with our two governments to build a new bridge to potentially purchase the old bridge and take it over so that it’s not in private hands.”
The bridge is now owned by Aazhogan Limited Partnership, a consortium of the BMI Group and Rainy River First Nations.
Droba says the firm has been a part of their meetings and is providing financial data to assist in the discussions.
The International Bridge is one of two joining Canada and the U.S. that is privately-owned.
The other is in the Detroit-Windsor area.
“Detroit and Windsor have other bridges that folks can use right next to it that are publicly-owned. We’re in a unique situation. So we are having some good conversations with that.”
