The Chair of the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority is not phased at Canada issuing a permit for the Ambassador Bridge to replace its crossing.
Dwight Duncan says the permit contains significnt restrictions on the project that are aimed at protecting Windsor and the residents in the west end.
Duncan says Canada had little choice and could not use the excuse they didn't like the owners of the Ambassador Bridge:
He says the issuing of the permit is not the starting gun for construction of the replacement Ambassador Bridge:
"they can't even start construction on the nerw span until they've completed the environmental studies associated with taking down the existing structure as well as the engineering studies" said Duncan "and then, as I understand it, that will require them to get either a new or ammended permit from the US Coast Guard, so they've still got a number of hoops to go through"
Duncan explains that the delay in the Gordie Howe procurement process was not taken lightly and that timelines for construction have been maintained.
He says by this time next year a proponent will have been chosen for construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge and that work will have started.
He adds the construction of a replacement Ambassador Bridge is still a long way off because of the restrictions included in the permit.
Duncan points out the Maroun family has owned the Ambassador Bridge for many years, but have never built a bridge themselves.
The Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority has also issued a formal statement in response to the permit for a replacement Ambassador Bridge.
The WDBA point out the Gordie Howe International Bridge project is "separate and distinct" from plans of the owners of the Ambassador Bridge to replace their existing span.
The statement reiterates the new Gordie Howe bridge is needed to handle future traffic needs and provides redundancy at the busiest trade corridor between Canada and the united States.
The WDBA adds that it and the Government of Canada are fully committed to the Gordie Howe project with more than $350-million in prep work at both the Canadian and US site and the public-private procurement process underway.