Long traffic tie-ups at Sault Ste. Marie rail crossings may be a thing of the past with a deal struck between Canadian National Railway and Algoma Steel to build a $1-million rail spur. The steelmaker has granted the railway an easement over its property to build a 4,500-foot link, thus ending a practice of shunting trains into CN's rail yards and blocking downtown intersections. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Up to four trains daily block as many as 11 crossings in the downtown area. It is believed the rail spur will reduce traffic waits by 30 per cent. The rail diversion may also redirect logging trucks, destined for St. Marys Paper, away from the downtown. The city intends to designate and build a future truck route along the rail lines from the downtown to the truck corridor along Second Line in the city's north end. The truck route is scheduled to open in 2007.
