The waters of Lake Ontario flow past Amherst Island into the funnel that becomes the St. Lawrence River. With its 1,850 islands, this area is known around the world as the Thousand Island Region. Amherst Island and its archipelago cover over 16,500 acres in the northeastern corner of Lake Ontario, marking the beginning of this picturesque region and attracting both international and local tourism. To improve access to the island, the Ministry of Transportation recently completed the reconstruction of the ferry terminals at both Millhaven (mainland) and Stella (island).

As the only mode of transportation to Amherst Island, the ferry upgrade project was critically important to residents and business owners. A Class Environmental Assessment was completed in 2014 to generate and evaluate various alternatives for each terminal and the recommendations were based on consideration of the natural, socio-economic and cultural environments, as well as engineering and cost considerations. The final plan included reconstruction of both terminals to permit end loading of vehicles; new hydraulic primary ramps and new secondary ramps; extension of the berthing piers, expanded marshalling area, increased parking spaces, new terminal buildings; new winter operation bubbler system; and more.

The Thousand Islands are world famous and attract many visitors for site-seeing and recreation. The North Channel separating Amherst Island from the Mainland offers some of the finest sailing waters on the Continent while anglers can enjoy excellent bass, musky, pike, walleye and trout fishing. The island is also well known for its owl population and romantic bicycle tours. It is easy to understand why environmental impact was a critical component of the planning stages for the ferry improvement project. Building materials would need to endure the constant exposure and/or submergence in freshwater without impact marine life. Corrosion protection would be vital to the longevity of the new structures and it would need to be durable enough to withstand the nearly constant operational activities. Finally, the components needed to provide a low-key, yet visually pleasing aesthetic in this beautiful region.

After thorough consideration of the available options, hot-dip galvanized steel was selected for the Ferry Ramps, Aprons, Hydraulic & Pinning Brackets, Railings and Ladders. Through decades of research, galvanized steel is recognized as one of the best methods of corrosion protection for submersed applications due to its complete, uniform coverage. The longer life span compared to alternative options means less interruptions and costs due to maintenance and/or replacement. Furthermore, hot-dip galvanizing provides a clean, non-obtrusive aesthetic, allowing the structures to blend in well with its surroundings.

A strong working relationship between the fabricator and galvanizer was an important contributing factor for meeting project goals. Prior to fabrication, the teams met to discuss venting requirements to ensure the high quality standards for galvanizing would be met. The galvanizer triple checked all materials for adherence to ASTM A-123 specifications. They also adjusted schedules to align with the project timeline requirements and product was delivered to the construction site at the requested times. The team members were very happy with the effective and enjoyable teamwork environment throughout the project. The results produced a satisfactory and useful new ferry terminal that residents and visitors will appreciate for decades.