Canada to spend $129 million to reduce delays at Detroit-Windsor border

Canada to spend $129 million to reduce delays at Detroit-Windsor border    The governments of Ontario and Canada said they have committed an additional C$129 million ($104 million) to improve roads leading to the heavily trafficked Ambassador Bridge and tunnel connecting Detroit and Windsor, the largest commercial gateway between the two nations. The money would also be used to fund expansion of rail and truck ferry services.
   The Detroit-Windsor crossings handle about $140 billion of goods and about 16 million cars and trucks each year, but governments on both sides of the border are under pressure to expand infrastructure because of congestion delays caused by ever growing commercial and passenger traffic.
   In a study released Thursday, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce said the U.S. economy loses $4.13 billion per year, or $471,461 per hour, in lost export opportunities because of clogged border crossings.
   “Borders have become the chokepoint of our economy” and delays are the equivalent of tariffs that depress trade, Ontario Chamber President Len Crispino, said at a press conference in Washington. “But unlike tariffs, delays do not produce revenue for our governments.”
   A four-hour delay, common at the Ambassador Bridge, will cost the U.S. economy $5.5 million, he said.
   “It’s imperative that governments ensure the timely and secure movement of goods, people and services across our borders,” Crispino said.
   Ontario Chamber officials issued the study and traveled to Washington to press their case about the need to urgently deal with infrastructure problems on both sides of the entire border. Canadian businesses hope U.S. officials will be spurred to faster action once presented with figures showing delays are doing harm to businesses in their state.
   Crispino and his staff met with more than a dozen members of Congress, including Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Rick Santorum, R-Pa., as well as officials with the Department of Homeland Security.
   The funding announcement by Canada marks the second phase of the joint federal and provincial governments ‘Let’s Get Windsor-Essex Moving Strategy’ to invest C$300 million ($242 million) to improve traffic flows at the crossing. The first phase provided $82 million for improvements.
   The governments of Canada and Ontario have committed C$21 million ($17 million) for environmental assessments and preparatory work. A further C$108 million ($87 million) has been allocated to proceed with detailed design and construction of the following initiatives:
   * Widening of Highway 401 from Highway 3 to Manning Road.
   * Highway 3 intersection improvements at Outer Drive and Walker Road.
   * Howard Avenue rail/road grade separation.