DETROIT — The Michigan Department of Transportation has sent out requests for proposals from companies interested in designing and building a new bridge between Windsor, Ont. and Detroit.

Each of the seven issued RFPs close on July 27.

As it’s well known, the project is being challenged by the owners of the private Ambassador Bridge, which is forging ahead with plans to twin the current 81-year-old structure.

The bridge company is suing the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) study team assigned to manage the new bridge project. And last month, the state of Michigan fired back, suing Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun’s bridge company for beginning construction of his twin span without the required government permits.

Meanwhile, the Windsor Star reports that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Ontario also issued RFPs for the design, build, finance and maintenance of the proposed $1.6-billion Windsor-Essex Parkway, a border feeder highway in Windsor under the DRIC plan. 

The nine-kilometre below-grade route in the Talbot Road-Huron Church corridor includes 11 short overpasses, which total 1.8 kilometres of coverage.

Also, Transport Canada is reportedly finalizing the purchase of about 100 acres of riverfront land in the Brighton Beach area of Windsor to allow the construction of the new, public bridge.

Windsor’s city council approved a preliminary measure last week that allowed the federal agency to inspect and test the property.