On July 30, 1960 the International Bridge was officially opened between Rainy River, ON and Baudette, MN. Before the creation of the bridge, citizens used a ferry to travel between the two communities. Crossing was a slow process because the ferry could only accommodate a certain amount of vehicles and passengers. The bridge was constructed at a cost of $1,400,000.00. Today, the toll-free bridge serves as a vital link between the two communities as well as ports of entry to Canada and the United States.