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Beached at Alang 29.03.18

arrived Alang anchorage

arrived Alang anchorage 29.03.18

Bridge 19 open to traffic again after 5 months

PORT COLBORNE – About five months after it closed, bridge 19 in Port Colborne has re-opened and provided some relief for motorists looking to pass through the city. Late last year, on Sept. 30, a shipping vessel, the Lena J, came into contact with the bridge prompting its immediate closure. At the time, seaway management said it wasn’t clear what lead to the collision and stated there had been no malfunction with the bridge system that might have caused the accident. Throughout the closure, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) which operates the bridges, made sure to keep at least one of the remaining bridges open for motorists at all times. While news of the bridge reopening is welcomed by local motorists, it’s also positive news for nearby businesses, many of whom expressed displeasure with being cut off from the other side of the canal. The bridge re-opening comes just a few days before the official opening of the shipping season, with the first downbound vessel heading through the locks on Monday morning. Luc Boisclair, general manager of SLSMC, was in the city for the annual top hat ceremony to welcome the first ship, and also noted that the newly re-opened bridge has been certified for full weight loads. “There will be no more cargo restrictions for trucks using the bridge, which is great news for that shipping industry also,” said Boisclair. Prior to the collision incident last year, certain restrictions were in place which prevented heavy trucks from using bridge 19 to cross the canal. Those restrictions have been lifted and transport trucks are now free to cross the bridge once again. http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/6403623-bridge-19-open-to-traffic-again/