Closure of LaSalle Causeway in Kingston, Ont. blocking cruise ships
The closure of the LaSalle Causeway in Kingston, Ont. is causing concern for cruise ship companies, ahead of May 1, when all of their ships are scheduled to launch.
1000 Islands Cruises has three ships. The Island Queen is already taking passengers for tours out of the Kingston harbour, which the company says is normal for this time of year.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
But the Island Belle and the Island Star, the company's other ships, are both docked on the north end of the Causeway, and the clock is ticking to get them to the other side.
"We have two boats that are trapped on the wrong side of the bridge," explained Eric Ferguson, the general manager of the Kingston 1000 Islands Cruise. "We need those boats out. It's not an option to leave hundreds of tons of marine tourism assets in Kingston on the wrong side of a bridge."
The bridge, which is owned and operated by the federal government, was damaged during routine construction on March 30.
It connects drivers and pedestrians in the east end of Kingston to downtown. Last week, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) said the bridge would not be open by May 1, and offered no definitive timeline to reopen.
Ferguson, along with representatives from St. Lawrence Cruises and Ontario Waterways Cruises, proposed a contingency plan to the PSPC. They are seeking a temporary removal of a concrete section of the bridge to allow the ships to pass through once.
"That's the preferred option on the table right now," Ferguson continued. "That's the ability Public Services and Procurement Canada has to reopen navigation on this navigable waterway. That's what they should do and they should do it next week."
CTV News Ottawa requested comment from PSPC on Monday, but it did not comment directly on the proposal.
"Although timelines to complete repairs remain unknown," PSPC said in a release, "our teams continue to work diligently to re-open the bridge as soon as possible."
The release says the bridge is being repaired with a phased approach.
Ferguson and the 1000 Islands Cruises, meanwhile, remain frustrated.
"As of right now, we don't have any engagement on timeline at all and that is really impactful," he explained. "It means that we have to make decisions for these vessels, for visitors to Kingston, for the huge amount of economic impact that comes from that based on really very little information."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.