UPDATED 2/9/22 – 10:00 AM – The backup of trucks on eastbound I-69 and I-94 headed toward the Blue Water Bridge continues even though the Ambassador Bridge reopened Tuesday afternoon.
Traffic is currently backed up on I-94 just south of the Dove Road exit, and it slows down just west of Wadhams Road on I-69.
Wait times for commercial vehicles headed into Canada are reported to be 4 hours and 30 minutes as of 9:37 AM this morning.
Those who live in the area and commute to the Flint or Detroit areas are advised to take alternate routes until the situation resolves.
Sheriff Mat King said in a press release, “all eastbound on ramps to I-94 in St. Clair County are closed, as are eastbound on ramps to I-69 out to and including M-19. All off ramps remain open.”
UPDATED 2/8/22 – 12:29 PM – Backups at the Blue Water Bridge are causing significant traffic issues on east-bound I-94 and I-69. The on ramp to Blue Water Bridge from Pine Grove Avenue has been closed. There is currently a 1 hour 45 minute wait for commercial traffic headed into Canada and an 85 minute wait for commercial traffic headed into the U.S. on the Blue Water Bridge.
2/8/22 – 6:30 AM: A Canadian protest is showing signs of affecting travel in the Blue Water Area. The Ambassador Bridge in Detroit was closed last night, and Canadian Border Services advised travelers to reroute to the Blue Water Bridge. This morning, trucks are beginning to line I-94 and fill up area rest stops.
The protest is in response to vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers and started when unvaccinated truckers were refused entry to Canada. It began as a truck convoy on January 9th and moved to a demonstration in Ottawa that has been going on for almost 2 weeks.
A truck convoy lined up at the Ambassador Bridge on Monday night, and the bridge was closed to all traffic. It remains closed this morning, and it’s unclear how this will affect cross-border travel at the Blue Water Bridge.
At 6:30 AM this morning, wait times at the bridge were being reported as no delay for personal vehicles and a 15 minute wait for commercial vehicles, but commuters were observing trucks parked along the shoulder of I-94 and packing area rest stops.
Protestors insist they will not stop until COVID-19 mandates and restrictions are lifted.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
