As the trade war with the U.S. drags on, traffic at the Sault Ste. Marie border crossing continues to plummet – raising concern at the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce in Michigan.
In total, 56,441 vehicles crossed the bridge this March – a 29.9-per-cent drop over the same timeframe last year.
Last month’s numbers illustrate a broader trend so far in 2025, with this year’s 186,169 border crossings to date representing a 13.8-per-cent drop over the same time period last year.
As Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. is the far bigger community out of the twin Saults, a drop in border crossings stands to have a negative impact on businesses across the river, said Tony Haller, executive director with the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce in Michigan.
“It’s concerning, for sure,” Haller said. “We rely on the people from Sault, Ont. to come and take advantage of what we have here in Sault, Michigan.”
“Any time that the crossings are down (by) that type of percentage, it’s going to affect our economy here.”
This March, full-fare passenger crossings dropped a staggering 40.8 per cent compared to last year, with commuter fares dropping 25.8 per cent as well, both of which accounted for nearly 90 per cent of border crossings last month.
On the other hand, commercial truck crossings saw a modest 4.6 per cent increase, and cars pulling trailers increased by 49.6 per cent – but only accounted for 1.6 per cent of total crossings.
Last month’s drop continues a trend of dwindling traffic border, with crossings falling from over 70,000 in January, to 59,625 in February, to 56,441 last month.
It’s a trend Haller hopes will change with spring, before it impacts summer and fall tourism in the upper peninsula community.
“In general, (businesses) are concerned about the number of crossings that are not happening, and they hope that this is just a short term event,” he said.
“We appreciate everybody from Sault, Ont. coming over to Sault, Michigan.”