U.S., Canada to build new Detroit-Windsor bridge: Report

[Jaybird]

U.S., Canada to build new Detroit-Windsor bridge: Report

Thu, May 8, 2008

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

WINDSOR, ONTARIO — The United States and Canada will reportedly build a new bridge between Windsor and Detroit.

Citing unnamed sources, Radio-Canada reports the bridge will be built at a cost of $5 billion alongside the existing Ambassador Bridge.

The French-language network of the CBC says the site for the Canadian side of the bridge has already been picked and an official announcement will be made by mid-July.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is reportedly pushing to sign a final deal before U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office early next year.

The bridge will be built with the biggest public-private partnership in the history of Canada, Radio-Canada says, and will create up to 25,000 jobs in the economically fragile area of Ontario.

A 15-kilometre freeway will also be built to feed the new link.

The aging, narrow Ambassador Bridge is the route for a quarter of the traffic between the United States and Canada. Some 10,000 trucks pass over it on a typical weekday.

Radio-Canada calls it the biggest joint construction project in the history of the U.S. and Canada.

[UrbanImpact]

Originally Posted by Jaybird

Radio-Canada calls it the biggest joint construction project in the history of the U.S. and Canada.

Isn't the biggest joint project the dam near niagra falls?

[Dimension]

there is no dam near Niagara Falls.

[urbanlover]

The real story isn't that there's a plan to build a new bridge it's that final plaza and bridge locations has been selected .

Brighton Beach area to be site of new crossing
Dave Battagello, Windsor Star
Published: Thursday, May 08, 2008
Canadian and U.S. government officials are poised to approve final plaza and bridge locations in Brighton Beach for a new link between Windsor and Detroit, according to sources.

They confirmed Thursday a new plaza close to the riverfront, next to the Brighton Beach power plant on city owned property, is the final choice. It will feed a new crossing that will rise over the Canadian shore between the power plant and Canadian Salt company.

The crossing will land on the U.S. side just northeast of Zug Island and travel into a plaza in an industrial area of Detroit known as Delray.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/st...8-242004908089

For the those unfamiliar the Detroit River International Crossing(DRIC) Study has been ongoing between governments of Michigan, Ontario and their national governments since 2005. With the goal to building a third crossing to address congestion and other issue with privately Ambassador Bride that would take far too long to explain here. An article published in Forbes offers good overview of the issues with the bridge or as they call it " the best monopoly you never heard of."

The Troll Under The Bridge
Stephane Fitch and Joann Muller, 11.15.04


The Ambassador Bridge is Detroit's lifeline to Canada. Sept. 11 turned it into a choke point and a security risk. The story of why it hasn't been fixed revolves around one man.

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2004/1115/134.html

An overview DRIC's selection of Plaza B and Crossing B

Final Crossing Locations
http://www.partnershipborderstudy.co..._Locations.pdf


Canadian Plaza Overview
http://www.thepixelwarehouse.com/det...0Crossings.PDF

U.S Plaza Overview

http://www.partnershipborderstudy.co...ative%2002.pdf

[Xusein]

I heard that they were going to extend 401 and put it on a bridge to directly connect it to the US, but with this proposal, I guess the plan is dead. Can anyone help me on this?

[urbanfan89]

Originally Posted by 10ROT

I heard that they were going to extend 401 and put it on a bridge to directly connect it to the US, but with this proposal, I guess the plan is dead. Can anyone help me on this?

This *is* the plan.

[Xusein]

Oh, ignore me then...I must have wrote that when I was buzzed, lol.

[Jim856796]

Would the bridge require an extension of the E.C. Row Expressway in Windsor and a connection to Interstate 75?

[hkskyline]

$5 billion seems awfully high for that span!

[ChrisZwolle]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

$5 billion seems awfully high for that span!

My thoughts exactly.

[hkskyline]

Here's the Ambassador Bridge which spans the river between Windsor and Detroit :

[urbanlover]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

$5 billion seems awfully high for that span!

Just the bridge itself is estimated to cost around $600 million the $5 billion is every cost associated with the project property acquisition, plazas , new interchanges etc. One biggest cost will be the Windsor-Essex Parkway a six lane below grade freeway which will connect Highway 401 and bridge plaza for $1.5 billion.

http://www.weparkway.ca/

[Huhu]

Who will get the contracts to build this? Will the work and costs be split evenly between the states and Canada?

[DetroitCity]

$5 Billion? The biggest number I've seen has been about $1.6 Billion... but that may be only for the US...

[swaugh3]

Originally Posted by Jim856796

Would the bridge require an extension of the E.C. Row Expressway in Windsor and a connection to Interstate 75?

The E.C. Row will practically end near the Canadian plaza and ramps will be constructed to access the new bridge. And yes, the new bridge will provide a direct link to Interstate 75.

[smokiboy]

I would have preferred a more southerly connection, to bypass much of suburban Windsor and Detroit, but checking out GE it is to difficult to make a connection further south mainly on the Detroit side because it is to urbanized. The link at Zug island isn't to bad for a fast link across the river. As long as highway 401 is directly connected to either EC Row.

[TroyBoy]

Zug Island AKA hell on earth

[isaidso]

This can't happen quick enough. The current route through downtown Windsor is an absolute joke. Why is this thing going through Windsor at all? Surely, north or south of the city makes infinitely more sense.

[smokiboy]

I think only a more southern route would make sense. A north of Windsor route would defeat the purpose of a faster by-pass through the region because coming from Toronto you would still have to go around Windsor and Detroit. I think the problem with a southern route is where to connect it on the Detroit side. Plus I think both governments what each city to receive as much economic benefits from the bridge as possible. So having the bridge closer to each city will encourage more spin-off benefits, from increased traffic, shopping etc.

[smokiboy]

I think only a more southern route would make sense. A north of Windsor route would defeat the purpose of a faster by-pass through the region because coming from Toronto you would still have to go around Windsor and Detroit. I think the problem with a southern route is where to connect it on the Detroit side. Plus I think both governments want each city to receive as much economic benefits from the bridge as possible. So having the bridge closer to each city will encourage more spin-off benefits, from increased traffic, shopping etc.