Mayor Drew Dilkens says plans to replace the Ambassador Bridge and not add an additional spanĀ is a win for the city.
Dilkens told AM800 News it's too soon to tell how much of an impact the new span will have on west-Windsor, but he's happy traffic may not double as previously expected.
"What we're waiting for here is the details or conditions that are included in that permit. They will spell out ... how we're going to deal with some of the issues that we had raised to the federal government in their consideration of this permit," he says. "We have one win in terms of this being a replacement span only, the existing bridge will be torn down, but the devil's in the details, and we're waiting for those details now."
Dilkens says the permit approval could also effect an on going legal-battle over properties on Indian Rd.
"If the entire piece of land that was in dispute between the city and the Ambassador Bridge Company is included in this permit, it would likely conclude the litigation," he says. "If it was only a portion of the land, then the litigation may still continue."
The bridge company says the $1-billion span will be built at no cost or risk to taxpayers on both sides of the border.
Dilkens says the city has some time to take a closer look at plans before construction begins.