Baudette – Rainy River International Bridge, International bridge at Minnesota-Ontario border, United States and Canada
The Baudette-Rainy River International Bridge is a road and pedestrian crossing over the Rainy River connecting Minnesota and Ontario. The structure spans the water with multiple sections and provides dedicated lanes for vehicles alongside a separate walkway for people on foot.
The international bridge was completed in 1960, when the Port of Entry was established; before that, the two towns were linked only by a point-to-point ferry and a railroad bridge. The Canada border station was rebuilt in 1991 and the US station in 1997. A replacement bridge opened to traffic in October 2020, with a virtual celebration on 28 October, and demolition of the old structure was expected to finish by autumn 2021.
The crossing is the westernmost border point in Ontario and the westernmost Canada–United States crossing located at a bridge. The Canadian border station, rebuilt in 1991, has a tall canopy for trucks too large for the bridge's 14-foot-8-inch clearance, so vehicle height limits shape who can cross here.
Border checkpoints operate continuously on both sides to process travelers and vehicles. Walking across is permitted, and you should have proper identification and documents ready before you approach the crossing.
The bridge carries a 1.8-metre sidewalk for pedestrians, and its height limit of 14 feet 8 inches restricts which trucks can cross. The Canada border station, rebuilt in 1991, has a tall canopy that lets larger trucks pass that cannot fit beneath the bridge structure.
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