Negotiations for new Ambassador Bridge truck plaza in Sandwich Town 'very much a live issue'
When the permit to construct a replacement span for the Ambassador Bridge expired in the summer of 2022, many thought that would bring an end to a 20-year saga of boarded up homes in the city’s west end.
Work to fix the aging bridge has been ongoing for years and is almost complete, extending the life of the Ambassador Bridge for decades to come.
“They've stated publicly several times unequivocally that they are not interested in a replacement span at this time,” said Fabio Costante, the city’s Ward 2 councillor.
He was among the people who believed the expired bridge permit meant the secondary truck inspection plaza next to the bridge wasn’t moving forward, either.
But that’s not entirely the case.
“The permit was predicated on the designs and plans submitted with the initial application,” said city solicitor, Shelby Askin Hager, who confirmed what Costante wanted to be public knowledge, that work to build a new truck inspection plaza next to the Ambassador Bridge is indeed progressing, with multiple sources confirming this week that negotiations are ongoing between the Canadian Transit Company (CTC), the federal government and the City of Windsor.
The new plaza would be just west of the Ambassador Bridge and would replace the existing inspection facility two kilometres down the road on Industrial Drive.
A conceptual drawing of the new truck inspection plaza in Sandwich Town. (Source: TCI Titan Group)
“That is very much a live issue in our community,” said Costante. “The overarching position of the CBSA and the federal government is we need something closer to the foot of the bridge mainly for security purposes.”
TCI Titan owner Art Usoletti confirmed with CTV Windsor that a contract for his company to build the new plaza and structures remains in place once negotiations are complete and the government gives the green light.
All of the properties needed to move forward with the plaza are now owned by the Canadian Transit Company.
The nature of the talks with the city are to secure conditions that will benefit the City of Windsor and especially, residents of Sandwich Town, Costante said.
“This has been a long 20-year issue. And it's one of the greatest injustices in our city, in my view,” said Costante.
According to Transport Canada, unlike the new span permit — which expired in August 2022 — “the alteration of the new CBSA facilities is open-ended” and has 10 conditions, including the relocation and construction of a new fire hall to the west of the bridge and the conveyance of some local roads.
In a statement, Transport Canada spokesperson Nadine Ramadan said: “The Minister of Transport has written to CTC to determine if the expiration of the bridge replacement approval has impacted or modified the construction plans of customs facilities project. He also encouraged the CTC to finalize an agreement with the City of Windsor in order to satisfy the pre-construction conditions.”
But another condition Costante is seeking is an end to the boarded up homes that have been an eye-sore, eroding the quality of life for west-end residents for decades.
Other than boarded up homes on Indian Road, many of these homes on Edison Street and other nearby streets fall outside the plaza site.
“I'm hopeful that as part of the discussions as we move forward, those homes are absolutely included because they are integral to the rebirth of the sandwich neighborhood and quality of life for a lot of residents and sandwich,” said Costante.
It’s believed negotiations are progressing regularly and an agreement could be reached sometime this year.
The Canadian Transit Company did not respond to a request for comment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.