The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is reporting significant decreases in traffic crossing the Blue Water Bridge, but the numbers come as no surprise.
CBSA said passenger vehicles crossing the span have decreased by 94 per cent and commercial truck traffic is down 38 per cent since Canada and the United States agreed to restrict non-essential travel March 21.
Federal Bridge Corporation Director of Communications Todd Kealey said people are staying home, as they should.
"People that are crossing going into the U.S. look like they're primarily people who are going to work in the U.S.," said Kealey. "Traffic into Canada is a little bit higher and I would guess that's some of those same people coming home, as well as maybe some snowbirds coming home, but the numbers are fairly low. We're talking maybe 100 to 150 [passenger] vehicles per day."
He said truck traffic is different.
"Things there are what I would call, generally, seasonally normal. We're still seeing thousands of vehicle crossing every day. The numbers come down a little bit on weekends, but that's normal. I think the only really noticeable change that we saw was when some of the automobile manufacturers slowed down their progress."
CBSA said it's working closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada to conduct traveller screening and provide direction and information on the mandatory self-isolation required for people entering the country.
