THUNDER BAY — Repairs to the James Street swing bridge have created a tight squeeze for buses, so much so that the body that oversees busing for Thunder Bay-area school boards has told its drivers to take the long way around.
The bridge has been open for less than a week, after a six-year-long closure.
Although CN says the vehicle lanes are as wide as they were before the bridge was closed, Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay says fences installed to protect pedestrians have made it too hard for buses to navigate safely.
"The bus is eight-and-a-half feet wide, and the width from the girders of the bridge to the railing is only nine feet wide," said consortium spokesperson Craig Murphy.
He said the safety officers of the two bus companies the group has contracts with took measurements after the bridge opened.
"Both our bus operators – and I agree with them – say it's safer for their buses not to use that bridge," Murphy said.
This means the consortium's buses transporting children to and from schools in the Lakehead public and Thunder Bay separate school systems will take the same Highway 61 route they were diverted to after the swing bridge caught fire in 2013.
Fort William First Nation, which is not part of Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay, has chosen to use the shorter route over the bridge.
But at least one of its drivers, Pamela Piscopo, is leery about the tight fit.
"I did my test drive on Monday, and I was in shock. Being a professional driver, I don't think it's safe," Piscopo said.
She said there's not enough room to open the bus door in an emergency.
During her test drive her bus sustained some damage from being scraped along the side.
"I'm just not about to put those kids at risk," Piscopo said. "It's scary....Yes, it takes time to get to know the bridge again, but there's not enough wiggle room. There's just not."
She feels bus drivers should be allowed the option of taking the highway route.
Fort William First Nation CEO Ken Ogima said Piscopo is the only driver for the community who's expressed any concerns.
Ogima conceded that some buses have received minor scrapes making the crossing, but said the First Nation is working with the city and with CN to try to relocate a sign and a power box on the bridge which are difficult to manoeuvre around.
As for Piscopo, she'll try another test drive over the bridge on Friday, when schools are closed for a PD day and her bus is empty.
However, she said she doubts the trial run will convince her it's safe to use with children on board.
Thunder Bay Transit stopped using the bridge two years prior to the fire.
The bridge wasn't wide enough for its buses.
Its load limit is also less than transit buses and Thunder Bay Fire Rescue pumpers, which continue to take Highway 61 when travelling to Fort William First Nation.
