Traffic plunges at Sault border crossing with the U.S.

There has been a significant decline in traffic at the Sault's border crossing over the past year and the 30 per cent drop is being met with differing opinions.

Traffic has declined significantly at the Sault border crossing, but the dip is being met with different reactions from each side of the border.

Officials in Sault, Mich., are worried that a drop in the number of Canadian visitors will hurt their businesses. But on the Canadian side, there is hope that people will spend those dollars at home instead.

From March 2024 to March 2025, there were roughly 30 per cent fewer vehicles traversing the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge.

The two largest groups on the international bridge are full-fare passenger vehicles and frequent travellers, which make up nearly 80 per cent of all traffic.

The first group saw a 40 per cent drop, while the number of regular commuters dropped 25 per cent. Bridge officials say despite the significant numbers, they aren’t sounding alarm bells just yet.

“Year to date, auto traffic is only down 16 per cent and commercial traffic was up one per cent,” said Peter Petainen, of the Sault International Bridge Administration on the Michigan side of the border.

“So, to say that there’s an impact yet to our revenue, it’s a little premature.”

Petainen said traffic is still at just 20 per cent of pre-COVID levels, and it hasn’t seen the bounce-back they had hoped for.

Fewer travellers mean less money from fares, which would go to next year’s budget.

Fare revenue is down

“Fares in general, at least 40 to 50 per cent of that goes to operations, which is just to keep the bridge plowed and open,” he said.

“And obviously, this year has been a very long winter for everybody. And it obviously goes to cash collection for the revenue and then summertime maintenance and general routine building and facilities.”

Reduced cross-border travel is a major worry for the American side of the border, which relies heavily on tourism and visits from the larger border city.

“When we have a population base in Sault, Ont., that large and (who cross) the border to come to see all the things that we offer in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., you know … shopping and entertainment, restaurants, it’s a concern,” said Tony Haller of the Sault, Mich., chamber of commerce.

Whether reduced traffic at the border is due to political or financial reasons, officials on the Canadian side of the bridge are glad to see those numbers come down.

Sault, Ont.’s chamber president says the impact from U.S. tariffs will hurt and he wants to see as many dollars staying local as possible.