With the Canadian federal government giving approval for a second span of the Ambassador Bridge, the company's president is hoping to turn a new leaf with the City of Windsor.
Dan Stamper says relations have been strained, but he believes both parties can get past that.
For the past number of years, the city has been fighting the bridge company over the demolition of vacant homes on Windsor's west side.
Stamper says it's time to move on.
"Now that Canada has confirmed the permit and that we're a federal undertaking, I think the fights we've had with the city over the years is going to fade away. I think some of the litigation that we've had can now be put aside. Our hope is that it creates a new page for all of us to work together."
He's hoping to sit down with the city in the near future.
"Our hope is we can sit down now with the city and have a responsible, adult conversation and move forward removing the home because that's what the community wants too and create some green space between us and the community and start a new relationship all around."
Proposed location of the new Ambassador Bridge and truck plaza (Photo courtesy of www.ambassadorbridge.com)
Stamper adds, a new bridge is good news for both sides of the border.
"A lot of different people saying Canada would never give us the permits. So the only new bridge that's ever going to be built is down river. Now we know that's not accurate. Our hope is things change. So I think there's nothing but good to come out of this for everybody and thousands of new jobs for our region."
Stamper says the permit gives approval for a new bridge and truck plaza which will be located directly west of the current bridge.
Construction of the new six lane bridge is expected to take three years.
The $1-billion project will be North America’s longest cable bridge.