The Federal Bridge Corporation (FBCL) says a lot of improvements have been made at the Blue Water Bridge and surrounding area since the second span opened 25 years ago, in 1997.
A ceremony was held Tuesday to mark the occasion and to open a time capsule installed on the bridge by the Seaway Kiwanis Club.
FBCL CEO Natalie Kinloch said the new bridge cost $37 million at the time.
She said a lot of work has been done locally since then, including a $26 million investment in 1999 to bring the original bridge up to par.
"In the early 2000s, the focus shifted to the north side of the plaza," said Kinloch. "When you look around, we have a beautiful maintenance building, a modern facility and the new Duty Free store. Then, not to be outdone, we went to the south and built the tourism travel centre in 2005 and the truck ramp onto the 402 in 2007."
In 2008, they put in new storm water ponds, Highway 402 was widened, new CBSA truck booths were installed and other infrastructure improvements were made.
Other work has included the further expansion of the Duty Free Shop, new electronic signage, and a substantial increase in security.
The time capsule contained items including newspaper clippings, buttons, commemorative coins, Kiwanis programs and historic photographs.
Items included in the Seaway Kiwanis Blue Water Bridge time capsule (Blackburn Media photo by Josh Boyce)
Kiwanis Member Frank Stancic said the club has changed over the past 25 years, but their mandate of serving the community remains the same.
"When we look at the demographics, back in the day there were very few, maybe two or three women in the club. Who was in the club were generally businessmen, etc. We could never have had this event at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday, 25 years ago. Everybody would have to get back to their jobs and businesses. Take a look around and see the fabulous differences that have been made."
More memorabilia will be added to the capsule, and it will be put back into the bridge for another 25 years.
