The Canadian government announced last week the location for a new border crossing between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, helping to relieve congestion on the Ambassador Bridge.


After nearly six years of research and debate, the binational Detroit River International Crossing team recommended that the new bridge be located in Brighton Beach on the west end of Windsor, crossing into Detroit in between historic Fort Wayne and the north channel of the Rouge River.

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

According to The Detroit News, Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Bill Shreck said the state was aware of the Canadian decision and that it was consistent with "studies and analysis on the U.S. side." The U.S. is still conducting an environmental impact study on the new span and should have the results ready by the end of the year.

Past proposals for a twin span for the Ambassador bridge or a trucks-only tunnel have been dropped.

The Ambassador Bridge, which is privately owned, will continue to operate. It is the busiest border crossing in North America, handling 1.6 million truck crossings each year and more than 10 times that number in total traffic.

For more information on the Detroit River International Crossing team, go to http://www.partnershipborderstudy.com/index.asp.