WINDSOR, Ont. — The provincial and federal governments have bowed to pressure from Windsor Mayor, Mike Hurst, and agreed to spend nearly $1 million to improve the Windsor-Detroit border crossing.

Hurst had threatened to form a truck blockade to keep trucks out of the city if action wasn’t taken to alleviate congestion at the border. The $880,000 in funding announced yesterday, will allow for the implementation of four projects recommended by the City of Windsor, which is aimed at improving the flow of truck traffic through the area.

“The Government of Canada recognizes the need to improve the efficiency of Canada’s busiest border crossing while minimizing the impact on the Windsor community,” says federal Transport Minister, David Collenette. “This investment will help to immediately reduce traffic congestion and facilitate cross-border trade, and we will continue to work together to address these issues in the short and long term.

Provincial Transport Minister, Norm Sterling, adds “We will continue to work with the community and our federal and municipal partners to improve traffic flow in the community and at the border.

The projects getting the green light thanks to the funding include: upgrading vehicle detection video equipment to adjust traffic signal timing to current conditions; installing incident management video systems to assist emergency services; converting existing traffic lights to light emitting diode signals which provide better visibility for improved traffic flow; implementing data collection systems to allow for better traffic planning activities by revising and updating signal timing.