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March 17, 1999 9:05 AM, EST

The Buffalo and Fort Erie Bridghority took the first step toward beginning construction on the Peace Bridge, a primary Canada-United States link that handled 1.3 million trucks last year.

Redecking of the 72-year-old bridge and construction of a companion span alongside it is scheduled to begin in spring and be completed in 2002.

The $89 million bridge construction is part of a long-term project of the Peace Bridge Authority to increase traffic capacity by 100%. The project also includes building new connecting roadways and creating a pre-arrival processing system to speed the journeys of commercial vehicles.

The Peace Bridge carries $1 billion in worth of freight each week.