OTTAWA – The private Ambassador Bridge has been given the nod by Canada Border Services Agency to move ahead with its application to build a twin span between Canada and the U.S.

The study, which was required before the bridge company could conduct an environmental assessment on construction of a new bridge, served to identify border security and customs facility requirements.

According to a report by consulting firm Arup Canada on behalf of CBSA, the Ambassador Bridge has satisfied land acquisition requirements and other responsibilities to build a customs plaza on the Canadian side of the proposed new bridge.

The report clears the way for the bridge company to seek environmental approvals – a process that won’t be easy considering Transport Canada is working with Michigan transport authorities to build a separate, competing crossing a few kilometers downriver.

The Ambassador’s owner Matty Moroun acknowledges as much.

He told the Globe & Mailthat he expects further roadblocks from Canadian transport authorities.

"I’m sure Transport Canada is trying to figure out what banana peel to throw into the mix," Moroun told the newspaper. "I’m not a babe in the woods, and I know Transport Canada is going to tap dance and do whatever they can to delay our environmental case until next year, but the ball is squarely in their court."

Transport Canada spokesman James Kusie downplayed the CBSA report, noting that the bridge’s proposal is on hold pending "additional information."

A draft EA was returned to the bridge years ago because it failed to comply with Transport Canada guidelines, Kusie said.

He added that the bridge still must obtain all necessary permits before it can begin construction, including authorization under the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA), International Bridges and Tunnels Act (IBTA), municipal building permits and U.S. Coast Guard approvals.

The latter agency terminated the bridge company’s permit application in March because land required for construction of the American bridge landing belongs to the City of Detroit.

A court later ruled that the company must dismantle facilities it has already begun constructing on some of the property.