Transportation

Picture of Bluewater Bridge, Source: J. Abramowicz

The Blue Water Bridge

The Blue Water Bridge crosses the St. Clair River and connects the communities of Point Edward/Sarnia, Ontario to Port Huron, Michigan. As an essential economic link between Ontario and Michigan as well as a wider economic corridor through the United States and southerly to Mexico, the Blue Water Bridge connects Highway 402 in Ontario with I-94 in Michigan, which provides southwesterly access to: Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Madison, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Blue Water Bridge also provides access to Indianapolis, Indiana via I-69, and to St. Louis, Missouri via I-94 and I-55.

The initial 3-lane Blue Water Bridge construction was completed in 1938 with a main span across the St. Clair River of 875 feet. A new 3-lane bridge span was constructed and opened for traffic in 1997, while the original bridge underwent major deck rehabilitation. The deck rehabilitation was completed in 1999. In the fall of 1999, both bridge spans were opened to traffic flows, providing 3 lanes of traffic capacity in each direction. Daily traffic of an average of 14,000 vehicles cross the Blue Water Bridge and as many as 20,000 vehicles have crossed the bridge on a busy day. As many as 6,000+ trucks may cross the bridge on a busy day.

There are 11 bridge crossings and 5 rail crossings between Ontario and the Northern United States to accommodate traffic and trade. The Blue Water Bridge currently ranks as the fourth busiest Ontario international crossing for total vehicles and is the second busiest for number of commercial vehicle (truck) crossings.

Source: Blue Water Bridge Authority web site, 2003

For more information visit Blue Water Bridge Canada.

Sombra Ferry

The Blue Water Ferry in Sombra provides an international ferry service across the St. Clair River, between Marine City, Michigan and Sombra, Ontario. Sombra is located in Lambton County (St. Clair Township) approximately 32 km south of Sarnia.

The ferry operates from 6:40 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., every 15 minutes, 7 days a week year-round. The ferry provides transportation for vehicles and foot passengers.

for more information, contact:

Sombra Ferry Service (519) 892-3879 or toll free 1-888-638-4726

Canada Customs (519) 892-3461

U.S. Customs (810) 765-5454

or visit www.bluewaterferry.com

The Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport

The Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport is a 24-hour, all weather local/regional airport owned by the City of Sarnia and operated by Scottsdale Aviation Inc. The airport is located at 1500 Airport Road, with direct access to Highway 402, 10 km (6 miles) east of the Blue Water Bridge. The airport is manned from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight.

Typically, eight airline flights per weekday are provided by Air Canada Connector Services to Pearson International Airport in Toronto with connections to major Canadian, American, European and Asian cities. The airline utilizes Dash 8 and Beechcraft 1900D Aircraft. Air freight services are available on scheduled passenger flights. The airport is a designated port of entry with customs services provided by officers from the Blue Water Bridge. For passenger information (flight information, baggage, car rentals, directions, hotels, parking) and general aviation information, visit Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport or call (519) 542-7767.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport

Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which offers service to major U.S. and international destinations, is just over an hour’s drive from Sarnia. Visit Detroit Metro Airport for more information.

London International Airport

London International Airport is just over an hour’s drive from Sarnia. Visit London International Airport for more information.

Highway Network

A superb network of highways connects the Sarnia-Lambton region, not only to the Great Lakes Industrial Corridor, but also to the United States via the Blue Water Bridge. On the Canadian side of the border, Highway 402 is a major artery in the Southern Ontario transportation network. It is a limited-access, multiple-lane highway that extends about 100 km eastward from the Blue Water Bridge to Highway 401 at London. Highway 401 extends from Windsor, Ontario, through Toronto to the Ontario-Quebec border. The Blue Water Bridge and Highway 402 form an important part of he NAFTA Superhighway.

Highway 40 extends south from Highway 402, and passes through the “Chemical Valley” area. This highway provides a connection to the communities of Wallaceburg and Chatham to the south.

On the U.S. side of the border, major markets in Eastern Canada and the Northern United States are readily accessible via Interstate 94/69/75. (see Distance Map)

Distances from Sarnia, Ontario to Other Cities
			Driving Time
City	Kilometres	Miles	(hours)
Detroit	96	60	1
Toronto	288	180	2.5
Buffalo	384	240	4
Cleveland	384	240	4
Indianapolis	384	240	4
Chicago	480	300	5
Pittsburgh	480	300	5
Cincinnati	576	300	6
Milwaukee	576	360	6
St. Louis	800	360	10
Tennessee	800	500	10
Washington	800	500	10
Montreal	890	550	11
New York	930	580	11.5
Boston	1,100	680	12.5
Source: Sarnia-Lambton Office of Economic Development

Rail

As with the Blue Water Bridge, the regional rail infrastructure is equally impressive and solidifies Sarnia-Lambton's importance as a transportation gateway. Sarnia-Lambton is serviced by CN North America and CSX Transportation.

Canadian National Railway (CNR)

Sarnia is located on the Canadian National Railway’s (CNR) main line from London and Toronto. This railway line extends to the St. Clair Tunnel, which passes under the St. Clair River to Port Huron, Michigan. The tunnel, which was completed in 1994, replaced a smaller tunnel (6,025 feet (1,836m) with a diameter of 19 feet, 10 inches (6.05m), built in 1890 at a cost of $2.7 million. The new tunnel, 6,129 feet (1,868m) in length, with a bore diameter of 27 feet, 6 inches (8.4m) has the ability to accommodate double-stacked containers and multi-level carriers with non-stop efficiency. As a key component of CN North America's seamless continental transportation strategy, the $142 million (US) tunnel allows direct rail access from the seaport of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the American Mid-West. For more information on the history of the St. Clair Tunnel, visit St. Clair Tunnel.

CSX Transportation

CSX Transportation is a principal carrier in the Sarnia area, particularly for the transport of petrochemicals, fertilizers and grain. CSX has rail partnerships with all major carriers in Canada and the United Stated. The Sarnia branch of the CSX line extends from Sarnia southward to Blenheim, south of Chatham. The line links with CN Rail in Sarnia and Chatham and with CP Rail in Chatham. The Sarnia CSX line is particularly important for the specialized servicing of the industrial chemical plants in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley and for exports to U.S. markets via Windsor and Detroit.

For more information, visit CSX Transportation

Deep Port Facilities

Located on the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway, Sarnia offers deep port facilities, accommodating both domestic and international shipping - yet another link in the area's comprehensive transportation infrastructure.

Sydney-Smith Dock

Owned and operated by the City of Sarnia the Sydney-Smith Dock has, for many years, been winter berthage (for repairs, etc.) for the commercial shipping companies. Berthage charges are based on Transport Canada public port and public port facilities tariffs in accordance with the Canada Marine Act. The port of Sarnia is a popular winter harbour, especially since local firms are well equipped to provide ship maintenance services.