WINDSOR, ONT. -- Travellers in Windsor-Essex felt the pinch of enhanced border restrictions — bringing U.S.-bound truck traffic to a standstill and leaving Windsor’s airport near-deserted.
On Monday, Windsor police are urged drivers to avoid Huron Church Road due to a major traffic logjam which saw trucks bound for the Ambassador Bridge take up all three lanes.
Truck traffic stretched from College Avenue to the E.C. Row Expressway and beyond for a point, roughly seven kilometres, with some drivers indicating they were stuck on the road that leads to the Ambassador Bridge for more than two hours.
“I’m a little frustrated, but I understand also,” one driver told CTV Windsor's Sijia Liu. “It happens. There’s nothing you can do about it.”
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) declined an on-camera interview, but in a email to CTV News noted “enhanced border measures” were already being implemented to protect against the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“Implementation of the new measures has begun and will be finalized as quickly as possible, in the coming days,” the statement reads.
On Tuesday, the CBSA noted longer wait times at the border may be a result of more Canadians following COVID-19 health advisories.
“With more Canadians heeding advice to return to Canada sooner than planned and with added CBSA measures in place at the border, travellers may experience longer border wait times,” read a statement from CBSA Senior Spokesperson Rebecca Purdy.
According to the CBSA, the enhanced border measures include more officers to conduct health screenings and hand out informational flyers. Travellers are also being asked to fill out a Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Coronavirus form, meant to help authorities monitor and track those who have been identified as a potential concern.
The long delays on Huron Church Road came as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new restrictions at the Canadian border, which include shutting the border to non-Canadian citizens, with limited exceptions.
Permanent Canadian residents, the immediate family members of Canadian citizens, diplomats, air crews and U.S. citizens are still being allowed into Canada at this time.
"If you're abroad, it's time for you to come home. If you've just arrived, you must self-isolate for 14 days, and finally all Canadians as much as possible, should stay home," said Trudeau.
The new Canadian border restrictions will not apply to commerce or trade, and products will still continue to flow in and out of the country.
It’s a much different story at Windsor International Airport, where coronavirus concerns have left the terminals mostly deserted.
Because of that, airport staff is ramping up the cleaning routine at YQG.
“We installed hand sanitizers throughout the terminal and in our administrative areas,” said Mark Galvin, CEO of Windsor’s airport. “We’ve also stepped up our own cleaning process. It’s more robust, including surfaces that wouldn’t normally be on our cleaning routine.”
“We’ve actually done full terminal cleaning sweeps, in fact we have one scheduled for (Tuesday),” Galvin added, noting staff and public safety is a top priority.
“It really comes down to everyone sort of doing their part, in terms of social distancing in terms of being cognizant,” said Galvin.
For those travelling by train, Via Rail has cut its Windsor to Quebec City route service in half, but some travellers are grateful they can make it back home.
“I’m just going back to London and I’m glad I can go because that’s where my home is,” said one traveller who didn’t provide their name. “I brought some Lysol wipes to wipe the seats down and brought some gloves, just in case.”
