US Truckers Gather Under Border Bridge in Michigan Without Causing Blockade

Live cameras show traffic moving smoothly on the Blue Water Bridge between Michigan and Canada. Screenshot via Ontario Ministry of Transportation

Some U.S. truckers showed up at a bridge on the U.S.-Canada border on Saturday to support the Canadian truckers protesting the COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Videos shared by independent reporter Brendan Gutenschwager show some truckers driving through a road—which appears to be the Thomas Edison Parkway—on the U.S. side under the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan.

“Trucks slow rolling by the Blue Water Bridge at today’s protest against vaccine mandates and Covid restrictions near the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan,” he wrote in a Twitter post.

Some supporters can be seen on the roadsides waving American flags.

One supporter brought food in his van for the protesters.

As the protesters didn’t go onto the bridge, traffic on the crossing seemed normal at 6:00 p.m. local time.

The wait times heading westbound into the United States are less than 15 minutes for cars and commercial vehicles as of 5:00 p.m. local time, the Michigan Department of Transportation said.

The wait times for cars heading eastbound into Canada are less than 15 minutes. Commercial vehicles need to wait for 45 to 60 minutes to cross the bridge, which is not an abnormal waiting time.

Live cameras show that traffic on both sides is moving smoothly.

The Epoch Times is unable to locate the organizer for the event for comment.

Ontario Provincial Police in an armored vehicle at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor on Feb. 12, 2022. Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images

Police moved to clear the blockade at another crossing to Canada, the Ambassador Bridge, on Feb. 11 after a Canadian court granted an injunction to prevent the protesters from blocking the border bridge.

The injunction came into effect at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.

“We are providing notice that anyone blocking streets or assisting others in the blocking of streets may be committing a criminal offence and must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you may face charges. You could be arrested if you are a party to the offence or assisting others in the direct or indirect commission of this offence,” Windsor Police Service in Ontario, Canada, said in a statement on Friday. “Vehicles or other property related to an offence may be seized. Once a vehicle is seized, it may be detained and, following a conviction, possibly forfeited.”

All the pickups and semis that protested in the blockade had left the main road leading to the bridge by midmorning, but about 50 protesters on foot stayed and more protesters joined them on foot, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The authorities placed concrete barricades across a local road that carries traffic to the tollbooth of the bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Some protesters have set up blockades on nearby roads afterward.

Police said some vehicles were ticketed and towed.

“Active enforcement in relation to parking in the area of the protest is commencing. Vehicles are being ticketed and towed,” Windsor Police said in a Twitter post.

Supporters of the Freedom Convoy protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in front of the Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa, Canada, on Jan. 28, 2022. A convoy of truckers started off from Vancouver on Jan. 23, 2022, on its way to protest against the mandate in the capital city of Ottawa. Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images

After the Public Health Agency of Canada’s announcement that foreign truck drivers can only enter Canada if fully vaccinated starting Jan. 15, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announcing similar requirements starting Jan. 22 for non-U.S. national truckers crossing into the United States, thousands of truckers decided to protest and meet in Ottawa in an attempt to stop the mandates.

Truckers in west Canada started mobilizing on Jan 23.

As the record-breaking convoy passed through different cities, they were greeted with throngs of people cheering and holding Canadian flags, with some shooting off fireworks.

Demonstrators take part in the Freedom Convoy protests against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2022. Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times

Some provinces including Saskatchewan and Alberta lifted the proof of vaccination requirement amid the protests, also known as the 2022 Freedom Convoy.

However, Ontario—the province where the Canadian capital Ottawa is located—chose to confront the truckers.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Friday that the province will be in a state of emergency due to the ongoing protests in Windsor and Ottawa.

The declaration includes giving authorities more powers to deal with any blockages in 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges, and railways, Ford said.

Fines for non-compliance will be up to $100,000 and up to a year imprisonment, Ford said, adding that the provincial government will also provide additional authority for the police to take away the personal and commercial licenses of anyone who doesn’t comply with these orders.

Lisa Lin and Isaac Teo contributed to this report.