Protesters blocking part of Highway 402 to Sarnia, Ont., bridge to U.S. say they'll stay 'as long as it takes'

Two major southwestern Ontario bridges that are key trade arteries to the U.S. are now tied up due to protests against pandemic mandates.

On Wednesday afternoon, the section of Highway 402 that leads to Sarnia's Bluewater Bridge was closed, westbound from Nauvoo Road to Oil Heritage Road. 

About 20 protesters have made a full stop near Forest Road, with about 15 tractors bearing Canada flags blocking the westbound 402. 

The protesters have gathered around parked tractors, portable toilets and agricultural equipment on the highway and in an adjacent farm field. 

'We're going to stand'

At the protest site, there was constant honking from trucks passing the protest in the eastbound lanes. 

Several protesters told CBC News they want their opposition to vaccine and other mandates to be made clear, and for the protests to serve as a "wake-up call" to the federal government. They say they plan to remain "as long as it takes."

 "We're going to stand," a protester who would only his name as Simon told CBC. 

"Ottawa is going to stand. Calgary is going to stand ... they're going to stay until they get answers and and things dropped," he said, referring to protests in other cities. 

Another protester named Jesi, who's from Sarnia and also wouldn't give a full name, said: "Look at the Civil War, the protests against racism, the protests against slavery, the protests against the Vietnam War or the LGBTQ — they fought for their rights. And that's just what we're doing here is we're fighting for the rights of everybody, for our children." 

More traffic congestion due to Windsor rerouting

Protesters say they are in contact with Ontario Provincial Police and have purposely stayed back from the border to avoid halting cross-border traffic.

At one point Wednesday, commercial vehicles heading into Canada via the Bluewater Bridge had been waiting five hours, according to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), due to added congestion from traffic being rerouted by the anti-mandate protests in Windsor.

The CBSA has been diverting commercial traffic to the Sarnia bridge. 

In traffic on the Ambassador Bridge, which connects the city to Michigan, has either been blocked or slowed since Monday due to ongoing protests. 

• Protesters block Ambassador Bridge traffic for 3rd day
• Police tell drivers to avoid Huron Church Road as Ambassador Bridge protest snarls traffic

Windsor police have maintained one side-street entrance to the Ambassador Bridge, allowing the trickle of some traffic. Traffic is completely blocked for those exiting the bridge and entering Canada from Michigan.