FORT FRANCES, Ont. — The owners of Ontario’s second private bridge are reportedly shopping around the international crossing.

According to Fort Frances Times, the pulp and paper mill manufacturers that own the bridge, Abitibi-Consolidated and Boise Cascade, are looking for a buyer to the International Bridge and Canada Customs facility, which links Fort Frances, Ont. with International Falls, Minn. The crossing is jointly operated by Abitibi-Boise subsidiaries, International Bridge and Terminal Co. and the Minnesota Dakota and Western Railway.

Local politicians, including the mayors of both cities, say they’re interested in buying the bridge, reports the Fort Frances Times. Mayor Dan Onichuk in Fort Frances said it’s not in the best interest for either community to let the bridge go to another private investor — especially an out-of-town interest, which wouldn’t be sympathetic to local issues.

He suggested over time, perhaps the bridge could scrap tolls and become a free service.

Onichuk said he’ll meet with his US counterpart this week about becoming a serious bidder, the Times reports. Both mayors admit, however, the possibility can only happen with provincial, state, and federal assistance.

Area MPP and NDP leader Howard Hampton also said the possible sale of the bridge is the perfect opportunity to bring the international border crossing under public control.

The only other privately held international bridge is the Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit with Windsor, Ont. That’s owned by Detroit billionaire and trucking mogul Manuel “Matty” Moroun.

Abitibi-Consolidated in Fort Frances and Boise Cascade in International Falls also want assurance of free passage of trains and commercial traffic carrying their products included in any sale of the bridge. There are also about half-a-dozen pipelines that cross the bridge between the two mills.

The International Bridge — which is actually two spans side-by-side – averages more than 800,000 vehicle crossings a year. It also serves utilities by supporting telephone, cable television, and natural gas lines.

— With files from the Fort Frances Times