The Detroit, Michigan – Windsor, Ontario border crossing is one of the most important international trade lanes in the world with sixty-two percent of the trade, by land, between Canada and the United States, including 12,000 trucks, crossing the border each day. Transport Canada and the United States Department of Transportation stated that they will outline plans for a new bridge to serve this heavily traveled trade lane.

Ambassador Bridge has had Monopoly on Truck Traffic for 79 Years

Since 1929, the privately owned Ambassador Bridge has been the principal artery of truck traffic between the two countries. For anyone interested in the colourful history of how this bridge came into being, go to www.ambassadorbridge.com/history. The existing Ambassador Bridge, owned by the Detroit International Bridge Co., is one of four Detroit River crossings. Others are tunnels for passenger cars and rail.

Detroit River International Crossing Project

The bi-national Detroit River International Crossing project is a proposal from the federal, state and provincial governments in the United States and Canada for a publicly owned border transportation system, including a new river crossing, inspection plazas and access roads designed to enhance the movement of trade between the two nations. Canada’s Federal Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon said he will aggressively look for a private sector partner to build a new bridge in Windsor as part of the federal government's $33-billion Building Canada federal infrastructure program. "We are experiencing the second-longest period of economic expansion in Canadian history," said Cannon in a keynote address to the annual conference of the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships. "That's why our government is investing in modern, world-class infrastructure projects ..." He specifically pointed to the new Windsor-Detroit border crossing, saying it is clearly a priority. "A stronger border crossing will be good for Ontario and good for the country." Ottawa next intends to seek private sector participation to design, build, finance and operate the Canadian inspection plaza and a portion of the new bridge between Windsor and Detroit, Cannon said.

Cost: $1.5 Billion to $3.0 Billion

The federal government also announced it will ensure public oversight of the next Windsor-Detroit crossing - something it doesn't entirely have today given the private ownership of the Ambassador Bridge by Michigan businessman Matty Moroun. Transport Canada indicated Tuesday there has been plenty of early interest from private sector investors from around the world looking to get involved in building a new bridge in Windsor. The anticipated price is $1.5 billion to $3 billion.

Concerns Expressed by Owners of Ambassador Brodge

At the same time, the owners of the Ambassador Bridge submitted an environmental impact statement to Transport Canada as part of a plan to gain approval for their own six-lane replacement bridge span. The current Ambassador Bridge is expected to remain in place as a “redundant structure.” Dan Stamper, President of the Detroit International Bridge Co., has expressed a concern that the two federal governments are seeking to divert money away from his company. “They’re hoping to take half of our business, move a mile west and give it or lease it to another private operator,” stated Mr. Stampel. “We’re not sure that 1) that’s legal or moral and 2) we’re not sure that they can make the economics of that work….” Transport Canada has responded by saying that there is enough truck and passenger traffic traveling between Detroit and Windsor to go around.

Will this Project have the same Level of Commitment after the Elections of 2008?

The existing network is expected to hit its capacity by 2015. The Detroit River International Crossing is expected to be operational in 2014 and help relieve Ambassador Bridge traffic. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters and Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to demonstrate their continued commitment to the project. In a statement, Secretary Peters stated that “providing new capacity at this critical crossing will strengthen our economies, cut congestion, and improve the flow of goods and people that define the special relationship between our two countries.” The question is will the same level of commitment remain after the 2008 U.S. election and the federal election likely to take place in Canada this year.