WINDSOR, Ont. — A publicly supported second span in the Windsor Detroit Gateway would divert traffic from existing regional crossings, hurting them financially, predicts the president of the Ambassador Bridge.

According to the Windsor Star, Dan Stamper says that the future existence of the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and his Ambassador Bridge might even be at risk.

If the new crossing hurts the Ambassador‘s bottom line, it will seek compensation, he promised.

To make his point, Stamper points to a soon-to-be released U.S. Environmental Impact Statement by the Detroit River International Border Crossing group (DRIC), which is made up of Ontario and Michigan officials studying where to place the next border crossing.

Stamper says that the DRIC predicts an initial loss of traffic for the other crossings.

Truck ferry owner Gregg Ward isn’t worried about
a new bridge taking some of his business.

Blue Water, according to the report, would see a seven percent drop in cars and 16 to 18 percent drop in truck traffic in peak travel periods if and when the new bridge opens. The Ambassador Bridge would see a 30 to 39 per cent drop in cars and 54 to 75 percent drop in truck traffic, depending on the location of the new bridge.

"Do they want to bankrupt the other three crossings just to say they built a new one?" Stamper says.

But officials from the Blue Water and tunnel don’t seem to agree, suggesting that all three crossings have their own niche markets.
Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry operator Gregg Ward admits that if the new bridge is permitted to handle hazmat trucks, it might hurt his business. However, he tells the Star that it’s unlikely that’ll happen.

"We will be in business as long as we are needed," he says. "I think I know our place in the grander picture of international transportation. We are a niche service."