MichiganRadio

Fight Over Proposed Bridge Continues ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - Robert Sedler of Wayne State University Law School, says a 1921 law gave the owners of the Ambassador Bridge, or their successors, the exclusive right to operate a bridge crossing between Detroit and Windsor.

Sedler provided written testimony to the State Senate, which is considering bills passed by the State House, authorizing the Michigan Department of Transportation to embark on public transportation projects funded in part by tolls. Sedler was hired by the Ambassador Bridge Company to analyze the legal implications of a new bridge.

The DRIC - Detroit River International River Crossing Project - would likely be the first project MDOT would undertake if the legislation passes.

DRIC proposes a new publicly-run bridge, funded primarily by Canada and Ontario, two miles away from the existing privately-owned Ambassador Bridge.

The owner of the Ambassador Bridge is fighting the proposal at every turn.

Law school prof Bob Sedler acknowledges the state of Michigan could get what's called a "presidential permit," from the United States Department of Transportation, to get a new bridge project going.

But he questions whether the Secretary of Transportation would approve that, because the permit is only for matters of national interest.

Proponents of the new bridge say U.S. DOT is involved in the negotiations for a new bridge and they anticipate they would get the waiver.

Sedler also says there's not enough traffic across the border to justify the expense of a new bridge.

Again, proponents disagree.

Detroit is the nation's busiest international border crossing, but Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Bill Schreck says the second and third busiest, at Laredo, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, have more bridges than Detroit.

Yet all the bridges are thriving, he says, with plenty of business and truck traffic to go around.

The Ambassador Bridge Company wants to build a second span, next to its existing span. But it's been denied some of the needed permits from the city of Windsor, the province of Ontario, and the Canadian government. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio