Federal bridges are crossings owned and operated by the federal government, primarily including international bridges connecting Canada to the United States and interprovincial bridges. The federal government owns these bridges because they carry international or interprovincial traffic falling under federal jurisdiction. Examples include the Thousand Islands Bridge, Blue Water Bridge, and the newly completed Gordie Howe International Bridge. Federal bridge authorities manage operations, maintenance, tolling, and capital improvements, though municipalities provide adjacent road connections and services. International bridges are significant economic infrastructure, handling billions of dollars in trade annually. Plans for new crossings or changes to existing bridges involve complex negotiations between countries and require careful consideration of local traffic impacts. While municipalities don't control federal bridges, they're deeply affected by traffic they generate and contribute to transportation planning coordination.