Calais

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Calais St. Stephen International Bridge
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Bellingham
Calais
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16 Border Crossings (9 bridges)
Location of New Border Crossing Bridge 10
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Two New Border Stations
NB approach roads
New bridge
US approach road
Calais Improvements to Rte 1
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The Actual Plan
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N. B. Canada
Maine, USA
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New St. Stephen / Calais Bridge

• Since 1970s discussions about a new bridge.
• Existing border crossing heavily congested in
  downtown St. Stephen / Calais.

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Existing Border CrossingSt. Stephen / Calais

• 8th busiest truck crossing on the Canadian
  border.
• Truck traffic doubled since NAFTA.
• The project was recently listed as the Department
  of Homeland Securitys number one border priority
  for the entire nation.

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Project Management

• Maine DOT and New Brunswick DOT traditionally
  share the costs of bridge design/construction on
  a 50/50 basis.
• For this project, Maine DOT is the design lead
  and has worked closely with NBDOT.
• Maine DOT will act as project Manager for the
  bridge construction portion with input from NBDOT.

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Project Management

• Clair / Fort Kent New Bridge underway - NBDOT
• Replacement Bridge Built 1997 Vanceboro / St.
  Croix - MDOT
• St. Stephen-Calais MDOT

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Project Management
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Approval Processes

• Public Consensus / Environmental
• International Treaties / Agreements
• Fiscal (Tax, Duties) Implications
• Labour Force
• Border Security

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Public Consensus / Environment

• Different approaches
• Maine- Public consultation begins at a very early
  stage
• NB Once alignment is identified
• NB followed Maine protocol and held public
  meetings much earlier than usual

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Public Approval Process Maine

• 1999 Maine DOT held nine Public Advisory
  Committee meetings, two public meetings and one
  formal public hearing.
• Calais alternative the least impact to the
  natural, social and economic environment and
  received a Finding of No Significant Impact
  (FONSI) from FHWA in 2002
• Highway and bridge design near completion.

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Public Approval Process N.B.

• 4 public information sessions were held in St
  Stephen to mirror the key steps in the Maine DOT
  planning/environmental assessment process
• Identify broad study area,
• Presentation of corridor options,
• Selection of final preferred highway alignment.

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GST / HST

• GST/HST all imports subject to 6 GST at
  border hammers, nails, work gloves, excavators,
  barges
• American Co.s must register to receive input tax
  credits.
• Can. Revenue Agency ruled project International
  Bridge therefore zero rated.
• Contractors will receive all paid for GST.

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Income Taxes on services performed in Canada

• When a non-resident performs a service in Canada,
  the payer (Maine and New Brunswick) is required
  to withhold 15 tax on the payment for the
  services.
• NB hired a tax expert when informed by CRA that
  both NB and Maine would have to withhold 15 (30
  total).
• Still being resolved.

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Border Agencies - Issues

• How to handle an unmanned crossing fences
  required, video surveillance
• How to deal with US, Canadian workers at the site
  Do they check in at the start of the day and
  then get to cross back and forth? Or will they be
  arrested?
• Suggested specific dress i.e. hard hats of a
  particular color for project workers.

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Project Progress

• General Service Administration (GSA)- Concept
  Design for U.S. Inspection Facility Approved, May
  9th, 2006.
• Construction Progress- NBDOT has cleared the
  whole project site, including the CBSA site.
• Road construction is ongoing and will be
  completed Spring of 2007, including work within
  the future CBSA site.

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Timelines

• 2006- Spring 2008 Bridge Construction
• 2007-Fall 2008 Inspection facilities

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Pre-Qualified Contractors

• 3 American
• CPM Constructors Freeport Maine
• Cianbro Pittsfield Maine
• Reed Reed - Woolwich Maine
• 2 Canadian based with US operations
• Fundy Contractors N.B. and Maine
• Miller Group Ontario and Georgia

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Recommendations for International Bridges

• Establish free trade, work zone
• Taxes, Duties, Labour issues Waive
• Acknowledge differences in approval processes
• Frequent Interagency meetings
• Security Needs resolution
• Integrate overlapping approvals