DRIC says:Put bridge in Brighton Beach

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Construction could start in late 2009 and finish by 2013
Dave Battagello, The Windsor Star Published: Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Calling it the country's "No. 1 priority" for transportation infrastructure, Canadian government officials unveiled long-awaited plans Wednesday for a new border crossing in Windsor's west end which they hope will help end the city's border truck traffic problems and improve the flow of the nation's trade.

Following nearly six years of meetings, debate and consultation, the final recommendation of the binational Detroit River International Crossing team is for the new bridge to be located in Brighton Beach in between the power plant and Canada Salt Company.

"For the economies of both Canada and the U.S., this certainly is important to get this up and running," said federal Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon. "It's extremely significant for the economies of the two countries.

The length of the crossing from end-to-end is expected to be around 2.5 kilometres. The span over the Detroit River will be about 850 metres. It has not yet been determined whether the new bridge will be a cable-stay or suspension crossing.

Cost for the bridge will be about $800 million, with another $200 million spent on the Canadian plaza which will be 132 acres in size and located in between the Nemak automotive plant and the power plant in Brighton Beach.

The bridge will cross into Detroit in between historic Fort Wayne and the north channel of the Rouge River that borders Zug Island.

Construction is to begin in late 2009 with a target completion date of 2013.

The location for the bridge and plaza were selected because they would have the least impact on residents, less costly to build because of soil conditions and will be located on property that is  largely unused, the DRIC officials said.

Residents, business and politicians on this side of the border all applauded the location.

"It's exactly the location for both plaza and bridge the city proposed nearly four years ago," said Mayor Eddie Francis. "It's a location that the community has supported. We are very pleased with the announcement today."

Mary Ann Cuderman, leader for a west-end truck watchdog group and advocate for the Sandwich community, said: "The plaza and crossing location is something we in Sandwich can live with."

Coun. Caroline Postma, who represents the city's west end, was also content with the location.

"It's good to know what we advocated for at the end of this route is going to happen," she said. "It's something we have talked about through the entire process. The people in the west end have been truly engaged."

DRIC last month unveiled its final recommendations for a new border feeder road through South Windsor and LaSalle. The Windsor-Essex Parkway is a nine-kilometre, six-lane below-grade freeway that will include 11 grassy overpasses in the Talbot Road-Huron Church Road corridor.

Costs have been projected as being up to $5 billion for the entire end-to-end Windsor-Detroit border project.

Federal officials indicated Tuesday once construction begins on the new bridge, plaza and border feeder roads in Windsor it will create an economic spinoff benefit of $3 to $4 billion. Up to 25,000 person years of work -- a person year equals one person working full-time for a year -- will be created.

The local chamber of commerce supported the final location for the bridge and plaza, but was most pleased the project's going forward.