CCA applauds $1B bridge-building partnership

The Government of Canada is building bridges with its neighbours south of the border, an effort applauded by the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the conclusion of an agreement between Canada and the State of Michigan on June 15 to construct a new publicly-owned bridge for the Windsor-Detroit border crossing.
Approximately 25 per cent of the trade between the U.S. and Canada moves through the Detroit-Windsor border.

“Today’s announcement shows the Government of Canada recognizes the importance and significance of new infrastructure as it relates to the Canadian economy,” said Michael Atkinson, president of the CCA. “Transportation corridors such as Windsor-Detroit help to transport millions of dollars in goods between Canada and the U.S., and construction of these projects not only provides economic stimulus during the project, but ensures a reliable and efficient infrastructure system exists to maintain a strong Canadian economy.”

The bridge is expected to relieve traffic congestion at the Detroit-Windsor crossing while creating thousands of jobs on both sides of the border. The project would also include: the construction of U.S. and Canadian inspection plazas; and an interchange with Interstate-75 in Michigan.

The bridge is expected to take approximately five years to complete.

Under the deal, the Government of Canada would finance the project, including approximately $550 million worth of road improvements on the Michigan side of the border, which would be recouped through tolls collected on the Canadian side of the bridge.

The $1 billion bridge would be designed, built and operated through a public-private partnership with a company yet to be selected. Customs plazas built on the Michigan side of the border would be funded by the U.S. federal government.