DETROIT, Mich. — A third crossing between Detroit Ontario may be in the works, thanks to a coalition of U.S. and Canadian officials.

The group is stepping up its efforts to establish the crossing as a way to ease mounting congestion on the existing crossings.

The Canada-U.S.-Ontario-Michigan Border Transportation Partnership is eyeing three possibilities for a tunnel or bridge, each costing between $400 million to US$600 million.

The push for the move comes on the heels of a recent study that shows Michigan and Ontario could lose $6.9 billion in jobs and trade by 2030.

The Detroit-Windsor border currently handles $92 billion in trade per year, or roughly 25 per cent of the total U.S.-Canadian trade. The state’s other major crossings points are bridges in Port Huron and Sault Ste. Marie.

But the coalition could find a major stumbling block in the form of Manuel J. (Marty) Moroun, the trucking magnate from Grosse Pointe Shores who owns the Ambassador Bridge. Toll revenues generate $65 million per year for his Detroit International Bridge Co.

The proposals under consideration are to twin the Ambassador Bridge with another span, build another bridge near Zug Island or convert a train tunnel in southwest Detroit to a twin train and truck tunnel.
– with files from the Toronto Star