Rainbow Bridge Plaza Redevelopment

A phased 30 million dollar construction project designed to increase the potential traffic capacity to the bridge and to provide an elegant gateway to Canada. The additional bridge capacity was achieved through flaring of the bridge and of the plaza to provide for additional Customs & Immigration primary inspection stations and a new secondary inspections building.

A glazed pedestrian walkway over the arc of the incoming inspection lanes and the outgoing toll lanes provides a panoramic view of Niagara Falls and River. The walkway also provides access to the new secondary inspection building and to the meeting rooms and other facilities in the landmark 10 storey Carillon Tower at the centre of the plaza. Stairs and multi-level elevators at the ends of the walkway provide barrier-free access to all levels of the complex, including the River Road shops under the flared bridge and the adjacent gardens and restaurant.

Included in the contract was the refacing, repair and cleaning of the Carillon Tower. The stone veneer was piece-numbered and removed; after replacement of original stone anchorage facilities with stainless steel and application of membrane waterproofing, the stone was cleaned and replaced.

The entire project was carried out in concert with the Construction Manager, Vanbots Construction. This was a multi-phase operation in which an agreed portion of the bridge and its Customs & Immigration functions was kept contiuously operational.