Vote paves road for truck ferry expansion

WINDSOR, Ont. — City Council here has agreed to buy a small stretch of private land leading to the Windsor-Detroit Ferry terminal.

The move is expected to clear the way for upgrades to the ferry service, according to the Windsor Star.

During a expansion planning phase, it was discovered that a small 30-metre section of road at the mouth of the ferry facility’s access point was owned by Morterm Ltd., a shipping dock next door to the ferry.

The City will be reimbursed by the Province of Ontario for the acquisition.

Upon making the move, council approved recommendations for about $5 million worth of improvements to the terminal area, access road and dock of the ferry service.

Work on these projects has been delayed for a year because of the issue with the private section of the access road.

The ferry is the only government-approved link between Windsor and Detroit for hazmat trucks.

However, some hazmat trucks reportedly are allowed access to the nearby Ambassador Bridge anyway.

Ferry owner Gregg Ward recently stepped up his efforts to pressure U.S. and Canadian authorities into increasing enforcement of hazmat and dangerous goods loads traveling on the privately-owned bridge.