Canadians buy land for new toll bridge at Detroit River

The Government of Canada today announced it had bought 38 hectares (94 acres) of land needed for the new toll bridge on the Detroit River that is to be built under a toll concession administered by the governments of the US, Canada, Michigan and Ontario. The bridge so far known by the bland name Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) has obtained most of the needed environmental clearances and should go out to concession in 2010 for completion 2014. Located about 3km (2 miles) downriver from the privately owned Ambassador Bridge it will provide improved connections between I-75 in Michigan and Highway 401 in Canada.

This land purchase - from the City of Windsor - is the largest single block needed to build a new inspection plaza and the six-lane bridge approaches on the Canadian side. Another 44 hectares (108 acres) of land is needed and the government of Canada is negotiating property acquisitions with smaller residential and industrial landowners. The area is called Brighton Beach.

Largest inspection plaza yet

The Canadian inspection plaza will cover 56 hectares (139 acres), one of largest in North America. It allows for a buffer of green space between the surrounding community and the inspection operations area. The space will also allow for growth to respond to future border initiatives and traffic increases. The Government of Canada purchased the land for $30m (C34m) through a federal Gateways and Border Crossings Fund.

The Canadian Government representative was quoted: "With this land purchase, the Government of Canada is another step closer to completing a new border crossing system between Windsor and Detroit. This border project will generate thousands of much-needed jobs and economic activity for this region, and will enable a smarter, more efficient flow of trade and travel between our two countries for generations to come."

The plaza will include nine toll lanes and 29 inspection lanes.

Traffic should have recovered by time new bridge opens

Traffic at the existing crossings is down dramatically at present - some 25% to 30% below the peak of two or three years ago. This is a combination of the collapse of the once Big Three US auto manufacturers, GM, Ford and Chrysler which are heavily concentrated on both sides of the international border, as well as declines in tourist travel, and more paperwork at the US border following the 2001/09/11 attacks.

However by the time the new bridge is built (2014 or 2015) the expectation is that traffic will have recovered.

Competition

The new bridge will compete with, from north to south, the Blue Water Bridge (6 lanes), Detroit Windsor Tunnel (2 lanes) and Ambassador Bridge (4 lanes). Blue Water Bridge is well suited for traffic Chicago-Ontario, but traffic from the Detroit area, and Ohio has shorter trips directly across the river into Windsor.

Major advantage of the 4th crossing Michigan-Ontario will be generous sized inspection plazas and expressway standard connections on both sides. Detroit Windsor Tunnel and Ambassador Bridge both connect to local streets especially on the Canadian side.

The Ambassador Bridge company wants to replace its existing 1929 span, a tight 4 lanes with a modern 6 lane cable stayed bridge. However it has terrible relations with governments on both sides of the river.

Fight over new Ambassador span

The Canadian national government, Ontario, and Windsor are adamant that they don't want the new 6-lane Ambassador Bridge span because the inspection plaza and approach roads can't cope with the existing traffic properly, let alone increased traffic.

Heavy trucks using the bridge approach it along the main shopping street of Windsor - Huron Church Road - rumbling and squealing from one traffic signal to the next.

Undiplomatic Ambassador

On the US side the Michigan DOT and the Ambassador Bridge are supposedly cooperating in a Gateway Plaza project to improve connections to I-75 as well as inspections. However Michigan DOT accuses the Bridge company of welshing on its obligations under the Gateway Plaza agreement and failing to build agreed components of the plaza.

Michigan DOT has deliberately dumped blocking piles of earth to prevent the bridge company making use of what it calls illegal ramps they have built. A case against the bridge company is going to court.

The city of Detroit meanwhile has complained that the bridge company has encroached on city parkland without permission as part of its preparations for the contested 6 lane span.

The Ambassador Bridge company's confrontational style has encouraged the four governments to proceed with the new crossing financed under a toll concession that will contain clear contractual limits on the private operator's powers. Ambassador Bridge was built under a charter in perpetuity.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-07-20