By DAVID BERTOLA
dbertola@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1621

The Federal Highway Administration rescinded plans for construction of a larger plaza at the Peace Bridge. That will allow the Peace Bridge Authority to take immediate action on plaza construction.

"Backups at the Peace Bridge continue to delay and discourage economic opportunity for Western New York and the entire nation," said Congressman Brian Higgins (D-Buffalo). "It's time to refocus on a plaza reconfiguration, streamlined crossing procedures and long-overdue bridge construction as we work to provide the additional capacity needed to support and grow the vast economic activity and over 1 million jobs that are directly linked to the Peace Bridge."

Earlier this year, Higgins wrote to Customs and Border Protection requesting an expedited effort on the Peace Bridge construction project, including consideration of a reduced footprint for the American plaza. 

"The direct engagement of the U.S. government in the process and a consensus on a reduced Peace Bridge plaza put real steam behind what we see as the first phase of creating the increased capacity so critical to the Western New York/Southern Ontario economic relationship," Higgins said. "This is a way forward that brings certainty to the neighborhood, adds predictability for travelers and could mean shovels in the ground significantly sooner."

The smaller plaza will allow for 25 inspection lanes, the same number as the proposed larger plaza and seven lanes more than there currently is, and will also reduce the proposed footprint by approximately 12 acres.