General

The battle of the bridges

Legal dispute threatens to delay bridge between Windsor and Detroit

The 80-year-old Ambassador Bridge is a big bottle neck for the millions of cars and trucks crossing the U.S.-Canada border between Windsor and Detroit. And that’s a big problem for the billions of dollars in trade done across the border at this busy crossing. But it is highly lucrative for the man that owns the bridge and collects the tolls, Manuel Maroun and his Detroit International Bridge Co. Last year, the U.S. and Canadian governments decided to build a new bridge. Now, Maroun is filing lawsuits to try and stop them, arguing that he should be the one to build the Ambassador’s replacement. He also plans to twin the old bridge. Detroit International Bridge has sued both the Federal Highway Administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation. A new bridge, the company says, would put it out of business. The legal issues now threaten to delay plans to begin construction of the publicly-owned bridge next year.

The Wall Street Journal

Looking for more?

Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
  • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
FILED UNDER: