Government of Canada approves the Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project, subject to conditions

OTTAWA, Sept. 6, 2017 /CNW/ - The Windsor-Detroit gateway is the busiest commercial land border crossing between Canada and the United States. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring sufficient capacity to maintain an efficient trade corridor that can handle trade and traffic growth for the long-term, benefitting Canadians for generations to come.    

To that end, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, today announced that the Government of Canada has approved the Canadian Transit Company's application for the proposed Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project spanning the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan to replace the existing bridge. In addition to approving the Canadian Transit Company's application, the Government is moving forward expeditiously with the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.

As a key component of the Windsor-Detroit gateway, the 87-year old Ambassador Bridge is important to the economic well-being of the region, particularly to the automotive industry and for daily commuter traffic between Windsor and Detroit, and needs to be replaced. The project will see the construction of a replacement six-lane bridge as well as an expansion of the Ambassador Bridge's associated Canada Border Services Agency facility.

Under Canada's International Bridges and Tunnels Act, the project is subject to conditions that will ensure the efficiency, safety and security of the crossing and mitigate the impacts of the project on the local community. The conditions include the dismantling of the existing bridge when the replacement bridge is open, improving local infrastructure, creating new public green spaces, and protecting the environment and considering Indigenous interests.

Quote

"The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of ensuring the continued flow of trade and travellers between Windsor and Detroit, one of the most important Canada-United States border crossings. The construction of the replacement Ambassador Bridge together with the Gordie Howe International Bridge project will ensure that Canadians continue to benefit from the efficient movement of people and goods at this crossing while providing infrastructure improvements for the local community."

The Honourable Marc Garneau,
Minister of Transport 

Quick Facts

• The Windsor-Detroit gateway is comprised of the Ambassador Bridge, the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry, and the Detroit River Rail Tunnel.
• It is the busiest commercial land border crossing between Canada the United States, handling more than 25 per cent of the overall Canada-U.S. trade per year, and approximately 30 per cent of the trade carried by truck.
• In 2015, 2.5 million trucks carrying over $120 billion in two-way trade crossed the Ambassador Bridge. It is also the second busiest passenger vehicle crossing, with 4.2 million vehicle crossings in 2015.
• The International Bridges and Tunnels Act provides the regulatory framework in Canada for the construction, safety, and security of bridges between Canada and the U.S. 

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SOURCE Transport Canada

Delphine Denis, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, 613-991-0700; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055