http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/nipigon-river-bridge-closed-transcanada-1.3397831

East-West Travel Shut Down as Trans-Canada Closed After Bridge Failure:

Message from Ontario Trucking Association

The newly constructed Nipigon River Bridge on Highway 11/17 in northern Ontario is closed for “an indefinite time due to mechanical issues,” according to the Ontario Provincial Police.

Several media reports suggest the bridge – located 100 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay – has split apart due to an expansion joint that failed in the cold weather, raising the bridge deck upward.

The Trans-Canada highway shutdown effectively closes travel by road between Eastern and Western Canada.  The estimated duration of the closure is uncertain at this point with police and local reports noting it could be “possibly days.”

At this point, the only way for vehicles to pass between Ontario and Manitoba and get around Lake Superior is to detour through the United States, provided they have the necessary cross-border documents. Westbound traffic from Thunder Bay would have to travel south to the Pigeon River Border crossing and then from Duluth to Sault Ste Marie.

In light of bridge closure CTA would like to remind carriers that Canadian carriers are legally able to move Canadian goods in transit through the US provided the carrier is able to supply an eManifest to USCBP including the value for all shipments on board.  Recognizing that this data element has been the single biggest obstacle for Canadian carriers wishing to move in transit this may not prove particularly helpful.  As such CTA has approached USCBP and the support of the Government of Canada to consider temporarily allowing paper in transits without value for the purposes of an emergency contingency. CTA has not yet received an indication from USCBP whether this will be considered however we will continue to discuss options with both US and CAD gov’ts and keep members apprised.