Do you cross the border as often as you did in 2000? If not, you are not alone.
The Ambassador Bridge saw a small increase in traffic last year over 2016, and there was a slight dip at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, but overall cross-border traffic is down significantly.
Statistics from 2017, compiled by the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association, say 6.8-million vehicles crossed the Ambassador Bridge, an increase of 1.85% over 2016. Traffic declined 3.73% at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel.
The audit takes note the tunnel was shut down for ten days last October, and that nightly closures are expected to continue until May.
The numbers become dramatic when a more extended view is taken.
Ambassador Bridge. (Photo by Jason Viau)
The association says from 2000, traffic at 11 border crossings in Ontario dropped 35.4%.
In 2000, 52,367,401 vehicles crossed the border. Last year, just 33,821,643 made the trip.
The Ambassador Bridge saw a 50.4% drop in passenger vehicle, truck, and bus traffic since 2000, the steepest decrease of the 11 border crossings. The reduction at the tunnel is almost the same, 49.9%.
Traffic at the Blue Water Bridge fell 32.2% in that period.
Some border crossings did see an increase between 2000 and 2017. Traffic went up at the Ogdensburg-Prescott crossing by 23.5%, while the increase was less significant at the crossing in Cornwall, just 1.5%.