The mayor of Windsor would have no problem with the province taking responsibility for the E.C. Row Expressway.
Former Ontario transportation minister Steven Del Duca is pitching the idea of discussions with municipalities about the uploading of critical highways and roads, like the E.C. Row Expressway.
Del Duca, who's running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, says it would give commuters urgent relief and support communities like Windsor that have struggled to maintain critical highways, roads and bridges.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told AM800's 'The Lynn Martin Show' on Friday that basic maintenance costs for the expressway, on any given year, are well in excess of half-a-million dollars. That's for things like cutting the grass, picking up garbage and cleaning it in the winter.
Dilkens said if the city had to fix the expressway to a proper standard today, you would have to write a cheque for over $200-million.
"It's one of those unique roadways, it's not just for the purpose and the benefit of people who live in the city of Windsor," said Dilkens. "It's an east-west artery for people living in LaSalle, Lakeshore and Tecumseh to get through the city and where they have to go. However, the burden for this roadway falls squarely on local taxpayers in the city of Windsor."