The Windsor Chamber of Commerce wants the State of Michigan to hold up on a plan that would allow trucks carrying hazardous materials to cross the Ambassador Bridge, Dave Battagello reports in the Windsor Star.
“We are not trying to question their technical assessment, but our problem is this seems inappropriate to make a judgment on an international bridge without consulting people on the other side,” said Bill Anderson, a University of Windsor professor who specializes in border issues and chairman of the chamber’s transportation committee.
“It’s a little disappointing given that there has been a lot of working together on the DRIC bridge. We need to get in the habit of making decisions on border infrastructure jointly — I think that should extend to something like this.”
The Michigan Department of Transportation, following a bridge company request to waive the ban, released an 18-page report a few months ago which includes several recommendations for the bridge, the Windsor-Detroit tunnel and major roads in Detroit leading to the crossings.
Under the recommendations, the bridge would be allowed to move any hazmat material over the crossing with the exception of explosives for the first time in its 83-year history. In some cases, such as fuel tankers, an escort with flashing lights would be required to accompany trucks carrying the dangerous materials.
