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

Sep 6, 2017 @ 21:27

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 andDetroit, 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.

“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.
PC Number Date Chapter Bill Dept
2017-1112 2017-08-31 TC
Act International Bridges and Tunnels Act
Subject Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project
Precis Order approving the CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION of a new six-lane international bridge immediately west of the Ambassador Bridge and the alteration of the Canadian border services facilities of the AMBASSADOR BRIDGE, pursuant to the INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES AND TUNNELS ACT, subject to terms and conditions established to mitigate safety and security risks and mitigate the impacts of the project on the local community and the environment.

 

Whereas section 6 of the International Bridges and Tunnels Act (the Act) provides that no person shall construct or alter an international bridge or tunnel without the approval of the Governor in Council;

Whereas paragraph 23(1)(b) of the Act provides that no person shall, without the approval of the Governor in Council, operate an international bridge or tunnel;

Whereas the Ambassador Bridge is an 87-year-old four-lane international bridge that spans the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan;

Whereas the Canadian portion of the Ambassador Bridge is owned and operated by the Canadian Transit Company;

Whereas the Canadian Transit Company, pursuant to subsections 7(1) and 24(1) of the Act, submitted an application to the Minister of Transport for approval of

(a) the proposed construction and operation of a new six-lane international bridge immediately west of the Ambassador Bridge; and

(b) the proposed alteration of the Canadian border services facilities of the Ambassador Bridge that will also serve the new bridge;

 

Whereas the Canadian Transit Company proposes that, once the new six-lane international bridge is constructed and open to traffic, the Ambassador Bridge be closed to traffic and used in limited circumstances and for system redundancy;

Whereas once the new six-lane international bridge is constructed and open to traffic, the Ambassador Bridge will not be required in order to meet traffic demand or for system redundancy;

Whereas a bridge that is not required and is underutilized could create risks, including risks related to safety, security and the environment;

And whereas the Governor in Council considers it appropriate to approve the proposed construction and operation of the new bridge and the proposed alteration of the Canadian border services facilities of the Ambassador Bridge, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the attached schedule, which are established to, among other things, mitigate the safety and security risks and the impacts on the local community and the environment that could be caused by that construction, operation and alteration;

Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport, pursuant to subsections 8(1) and 25(1) of theInternational Bridges and Tunnels Act, approves

(a) the proposed construction and operation by the Canadian Transit Company of a new six-lane international bridge immediately west of the Ambassador Bridge, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the attached schedule, which include the demolition of the Ambassador Bridge other than the border services facilities; and

(b) the proposed alteration by the Canadian Transit Company of the Canadian border services facilities of the Ambassador Bridge that will also serve the new bridge, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the attached schedule.

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