Rail Bridge Collapses Near US–Canada Border

The Associated Press
By The Associated Press
August 16, 2024US News
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Rail Bridge Collapses Near US–Canada Border
The Rainy River Rail Lift Bridge, also known as the 5 Mile Bridge, collapsed on Aug. 14, 2024, near Fort Frances, Ontario, close to the U.S.–Canada border and Minnesota. (Alan Boivin/Rainy Lake Boat Taxi via AP)

MINNEAPOLIS—A century-old rail lift bridge near the U.S.–Canada border northeast of Fort Frances, Ontario, has collapsed, and it’s unclear when water traffic will resume along the Rainy River.

No trains were involved, and no one was injured in Wednesday’s collapse, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The cause is under investigation.

Some “biodegradable, non-toxic hydraulic oil” was released, but environmental crews have contained it and are working to recover the fluid, the Canadian National Railway said.

Crews have begun repairs to the structure, which was built in 1908. It’s known as the Rainy River Rail Lift Bridge and the 5 Mile Bridge, and connects to the Port of Thunder Bay.