Protesters block traffic in both directions on Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit to Windsor

Traffic entering and leaving Canada along the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor, Ont., to Detroit was being blocked by protesters Monday night,withthe demonstration showing no signs of ending.

Demonstrators wavingCanadian flags and bearing slogans on their vehicles demanding an end to COVID-19vaccine mandates arrived at the bridge on Monday afternoon.They told CBC News that they had no plans to leave the bridge Monday night.

Similar protests played out across Canada over theweekend as convoys of vehicles blocked city streetsand highways

Ontario Provincial Police in Essex Countyissued a release Monday evening saying that as of 8 p.m., thebridge was "not accessible" in either direction. The release cautioneddrivers to avoid the area if possible and advised thoseneeding to cross into the U.S. to use the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, about 155 kilometres northeast of Windsor.

The Ambassador Bridge isone of the busiest international land border crossings in Canada anda major route for transport trucks.

The Canada Border ServicesAgency (CBSA) toldmotorists Monday afternoon to cross into Detroit from Windsor using the tunnel, which is located about threekilometres east of the bridge along the Detroit River.

The CBSA also recommended that commercial trucksreroute toBlue Water Bridge.

The agency said those recommendations would be in place "until further notice."

"The CBSA recognizes border disruptions affect both travellers and industry and we are working to restore normal border operations at this port of entry as quickly as possible," the agency said in a statement.

On the Ambassador Bridge, protesters told CBC News one lane of traffic hasbeen left open for motorists to use to cross into Canada. Still, traffic moved at a crawl, and some trucks were stopped for hours on the bridge Monday.

Windsor police confirmed the exit from the bridge onto Huron Church Road, both northbound and southbound, was "temporarily interrupted."

Police advised people to avoid the area if possible, and said officers were working to "restore the orderly flow of traffic in the safest manner possible."

A spokesperson for Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the mayor's office would notbe issuing a comment on the matter on Monday, as it's an active situation involving an international border crossing.