Jan. 26, 2005. 12:51 AM
Authority may operate Burlington Lift Bridge
By Peter Van Harten
The Hamilton Spectator
That prominent red Canada logo on the tower isn't being scraped off just yet, but the Hamilton Port Authority is thinking about taking over the Burlington Lift Bridge.
Jeff Brookfield, port vice-president of operations and harbour master, says there have been preliminary talks with the Federal Department of Public Works which operates the road bridge across the ship canal to Hamilton harbour.
Brookfield says speculation that Ottawa might give the authority a $30-million, one-time payment to take the bridge off its hands is "high."
But the authority is weighing the long-term pros and cons and costs of operating the bridge and would expect to be compensated.
"We wouldn't do it for the (one-time) money," said Brookfield who added the downloaded future costs of staffing and maintaining the bridge might kill the plan.
Public Works Department spokesperson Heather Grondin said talks are going on but that a financial proposal has not yet been made to the authority.
Public Works spends about $1.2 million annually to operate the bridge, she said.
The department is already looking to divest itself of various government holdings and suggested the authority should take over the bridge, which now remains lowered from the end of December to mid-March.
The talks came about when the port authority told Public Works that year-round operation of the bridge was needed for the port's truck ferry shipping project, said Brookfield.
The Hamilton Port Authority has been trying to establish itself as an intermodal distribution site. It wants to establish a daily truck ferry system between Oswego, N.Y., and Hamilton. A barge would carry more than 120 cargo trailers at a time across Lake Ontario to a Hamilton terminal, avoiding highway and border crossing congestion.
Brookfield said operations go smoothly between the port and bridge master but the bridge does not operate when the Welland Canal shipping season shuts down.
He said talks may also lead to the port authority taking over the Burlington Canal and piers maintained by Transport Canada.
The channel needs periodic dredging but Ottawa has stopped paying for it. A number of years ago, it cost the port authority about $300,000 to dredge the canal and it might as well have control, he said.
Chris Krepski of Transport Canada said negotiations are under way and the port authority would have to be reimbursed for any repairs needed.
pvanharten@thespec.com
905-526-3328
Photo-
Ottawa 'high' on giving authority $30 million to take over bridge.
Authority may operate Burlington Lift Bridge
By Peter Van Harten
The Hamilton Spectator
That prominent red Canada logo on the tower isn't being scraped off just yet, but the Hamilton Port Authority is thinking about taking over the Burlington Lift Bridge.
Jeff Brookfield, port vice-president of operations and harbour master, says there have been preliminary talks with the Federal Department of Public Works which operates the road bridge across the ship canal to Hamilton harbour.
Brookfield says speculation that Ottawa might give the authority a $30-million, one-time payment to take the bridge off its hands is "high."
But the authority is weighing the long-term pros and cons and costs of operating the bridge and would expect to be compensated.
"We wouldn't do it for the (one-time) money," said Brookfield who added the downloaded future costs of staffing and maintaining the bridge might kill the plan.
Public Works Department spokesperson Heather Grondin said talks are going on but that a financial proposal has not yet been made to the authority.
Public Works spends about $1.2 million annually to operate the bridge, she said.
The department is already looking to divest itself of various government holdings and suggested the authority should take over the bridge, which now remains lowered from the end of December to mid-March.
The talks came about when the port authority told Public Works that year-round operation of the bridge was needed for the port's truck ferry shipping project, said Brookfield.
The Hamilton Port Authority has been trying to establish itself as an intermodal distribution site. It wants to establish a daily truck ferry system between Oswego, N.Y., and Hamilton. A barge would carry more than 120 cargo trailers at a time across Lake Ontario to a Hamilton terminal, avoiding highway and border crossing congestion.
Brookfield said operations go smoothly between the port and bridge master but the bridge does not operate when the Welland Canal shipping season shuts down.
He said talks may also lead to the port authority taking over the Burlington Canal and piers maintained by Transport Canada.
The channel needs periodic dredging but Ottawa has stopped paying for it. A number of years ago, it cost the port authority about $300,000 to dredge the canal and it might as well have control, he said.
Chris Krepski of Transport Canada said negotiations are under way and the port authority would have to be reimbursed for any repairs needed.
pvanharten@thespec.com
905-526-3328
Photo-
Ottawa 'high' on giving authority $30 million to take over bridge.