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An Indigenous protest prompted Ontario Provincial Police to shut off access to the Thousand Islands Bridge for more than three hours on Family Day.

About 40 protesters, part of a nationwide movement showing solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs opposed to a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia, blocked the southbound lane leading to the international bridge on the Canadian side, quickly leading to a traffic backup on Highway 401, said OPP Sgt. Cynthia Savard.

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The protest, which started at about 11:40 a.m., prompted police to shut down access from the highway to the bridge.

“We’re advising motorists to plan to use a different bridge if they have to go across,” Savard said shortly before 1 p.m.

“Our provincial liaison team is trying to engage with them (protesters).”

The protest left some motorists trapped in the area.