US Gov freezes permitting for new span of Ambassador Bridge Detroit-Windsor

Detroit's battle of the bridges took a new turn today with the US Government putting on hold the permitting of a new Ambassador bridge between Detroit and Windsor. The US Coast Guard which only in February released a favorable Final Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact for the second span today reversed itself completely today, charging that the private bridge owner lacks title to property needed to build the new span and is in breech of a slew of contractual and regulatory requirements.

These may involve withdrawal of the FONSI and a full environmental permitting, the letter suggests.

Until the issues are resolved the Coast Guard has put further permitting "in abeyance," the US official says.

Detroit International Bridge Company (DIBC) owner of the Ambassador Bridge in perpetuity under a City charter issued in the 1920s is attempting to replace the present tight 4-lane suspension span - the busiest trucking route between the US and Canada - with a new 6-lane cable-stayed span right alongside the old span.

Local reports say ramps under construction on both sides are part of the new bridge, and built without any permits.

Governments on both sides of the river favor enhancing river crossing capacity with a new bridge downstream that would be built by a concessionaire under a longterm lease from governments on both sides. At issue are connections on either side of the river.

On the US side a Gateway project is under way to improve ramps connecting the bridge with I-75 and I-96 and inspection and toll plazas to the existing Ambassador Bridge, but the city and Michigan DOT say the bridge company is encroaching on a park and developing its part of the Gateway project to fit the unpermitted new span. They also charge it is failing to build a grade separation that would take trucks above local streets.

On the Canadian side the national government and the provincial government of Ontario oppose the new wider Ambassador Bridge span because it would channel more trucks through the main business street of Windsor, Huron Church Road and a dozen or more traffic signals. They say only the new downriver concession bridge can be developed with direct expressway standard connections to Highway 401.

Relations between the Ambassador Bridge company and various governments have deteriorated over the past couple of months. Michigan DOT charges the company with construction of the new bridge without a permit and says its work on the Gateway approaches project is in breach of contract. The City of Detroit meanwhile says the bridge company is illegally encroaching on its parkland.

Bridge company line

The bridge company for its part says government agencies failed to follow guidelines in the environmental permitting process that chose the downriver bridge in preference to letting the Ambassador Bridge modernize with a new span. They say the new bridge downstream is unnecessary and would constitute unfair competition.

They say local zoning rules don't apply to the bridge since the US Congress designated the company an "instrument of federal government" with a  delegated power that has supremacy over local regulations. A Michigan supreme court ruling provided some backing to the bridge company's claim, dismissing city efforts to curb bridge company "encroachment."

The bridge company has its allies, not least the new mayor of Detroit, Dave Bing. And it can mobilize various community groups and politicians - critics say their support is "bought" by generous contributions by bridge company owner and reputed billionaire Manuel ('Matty') Moroun.

The battle of the Detroit-Windsor bridges looks like being a protracted one.

Meanwhile river crossing traffic plunges to lower and lower levels - with the fall of local giants GM and Chrylser.

US Coast Guard letter and attachments:

http://www.tollroadsnews.com/sites/default/files/USCG-AmbBr.pdf

see Ambassador Bridge materials

http://www.ambassadorbridge.com/

website on the downriver bridge selected by governments involved

http://www.partnershipborderstudy.com

TOLLROADSnews 2009-06-15