OTTAWA, (Feb. 7, 2005) – The U.S. Ambassador to Canada says the Americans want to expedite plans of a new border crossing at the Windsor-Detroit border.

Paul Cellucci says Washington is also prepared to split the bill of such a project — which is expected to cost between $400 and $600 million. As an example, Cellucci cited a new bridge being built between New Brunswick and Maine, saying such a model could also work for Windsor-Detroit, Canadian Press reported.

About 25 per cent of total Canada-U.S. trade rolls through the crossing. However, increasing volume on the Ambassador Bridge and stringent post-Sept. 11 security regulations is stalling commercial traffic and choking trade. A recent study stated that the Ambassador will far exceed capacity by 2023 if a new crossing is not built soon.

Cellucci also suggested another option might be for a private consortium to take charge of building the bridge, if and when a bilateral border agreement is reached.

Cellucci said in the meantime, the Americans plan on building customs plazas on each side of major border crossings to speed up crossings and pre-clear trucks prior to entering the other country.

Last month, the long-awaited report by N.Y. traffic expert Sam Schwartz was unveiled in Windsor.

The report, which has the unanimous backing on Windsor City Council, recommended a brand new “Industrial Corridor Bridge” crossing just southwest of the Ambassador Bridge by 2015.

Today’s Trucking also reported Schwartz has designed a new truck route from Hwy. 401 to the future bridge. The plan would lead trucks off the 401 to Talbot Rd. All international trucks would then bypass the currently gridlocked Huron Church via a “horseshoe” route to the west through mostly vacant woodland. Ojibway Parkway would than carry the traffic north, through a city-owned industrial area, to the new central crossing. FAST trucks would have their own dedicated lane all the way to the bridge.

— with files from Canadian Press