Discover the Roots of the Thousand Islands Bridge System
The Thousand Islands Bridge system extends from Collins Landing near Alexandria Bay, New York to Ivy Lea near Gananoque, Ontario covering a distance of 8.5 miles and provides direct connection between US Interstate Rt. 81 and Canada’s Highway 401.
The crossing over the American channel of the St. Lawrence River, from the mainland to Wellesley Island, consists of a suspension bridge of 800 ft. (main span), with an underclearance of 150 ft. above the river. The American span from abutment to abutment is 4,500 ft.
The Canadian crossing includes the 600-ft. continuous Warren Truss span connecting Hill Island to Constance Island, a steel arch of 348 ft. spans from Constance Island to Georgina Island and a suspension bridge of 750 ft. from Georgina Island to the Canadian mainland (Ontario) with the suspension span providing 120 ft. of underclearance above the river. The Canadian span from abutment to abutment is 3,330 ft.
The operations of the Thousand Islands Bridge systems are shared under a joint agreement between the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority (TIBA) and the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL). Daily operation of both Canadian and U.S. bridges is carried on by TIBA from the U.S.
Key Dates
- May 1937: foundation work began for both American and Canadian bridges.
- December 1937: foundations for both American and Canadian bridges are completed.
- September 1937: steel work began in Canada and in October 1937 in the US.
- June 1938: steel work in completed on the American span and in August of 1938 on the Canadian Spans.
- March 1938: cable work begins in Canada and the US.
- April 1938: cable work is completed in Canada and the US.
- May 1938: deck paving begins in Canada and the US.
- August 1938: deck paving completed in both countries.