Canadian, American officials meet about Detroit-Windsor bridge
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
Regulatory progress being made on projected $1-billion border crossing between two cities
LANSING, Mich.—Canada’s transportation minister met with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in that state’s capitol this week for a progress report on the state of the new bridge set to span the Detroit River.
The much needed bridge will supplement the congested and outdated Ambassador Bridge, the only bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., and the Motor City.
Approved by President Barack Obama in April, the $1-billion New International Trade Crossing (NITC) has been making progress on both sides of the Canada-United States border.
“International projects of this magnitude and complexity require a great deal of planning and due diligence work on both sides of the border,” Transportation Minister Lisa Raitt said in a statement.
“The new Windsor-Detroit crossing will facilitate cross-border trade, provide thousands of much needed jobs, will help ensure continued economic growth, and is one of the top infrastructure priorities for Canada.”
More than 8,000 trucks cross the Detroit River each day, making it the busiest commercial border crossing between the two countries.
“The NITC will be a testament to our enduring ability to achieve great things,” Snyder said.
“Since the issuance of the presidential permit, Canada and Michigan have continued to strengthen both their partnership and working relationship to ensure that their shared vision of a vibrant future is fully and timely realized.”
While no timeline for construction has been provided, the update from the Lansing, Mich., meeting said that snake fencing has been installed and species of at risk plants and breeding birds have been relocated, and vegetative surveys have already been completed in Canada.
On the U.S. side, officials are completing titles searches for properties needed for the U.S. port of entry.
The state has also obtained the requisite Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) permit and has completed its application for the Coast Guard navigational permit.
