Ambassador says twin will have no adverse impact on environment

WINDSOR, Ont. — The owners of the Ambassador Bridge says local air quality and the surrounding environment will improve after its new, six-lane twin crossing is built next to the current bridge.

The bridge company recently revealed the results of its environmental assessment — conducted by consulting firm Ortech Environmental — for its new cable stayed bridge, which will span the Detroit River about 100 feet west of the Ambassador.

Computer rendering of the new span 100
feet west of the current Ambassador.

Using “sensitive receptors” from software models certified by Environment Canada and the US Environmental Protection Agency, the bridge company studied the areas of the current Bridge, the “Enhancement Project” area directly to the west, Huron Church Road and arterial roads, and concluded air quality in the affected spaces would actually improve and particulate matter levels could fall.

Additionally, noise sensitive receptors — based on Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Transportation guidelines — were used to measure existing sound levels and predict future noise. The company claims noise would reach an average of 64 decibels by 2021 with the new bridge, and hit 66 decibels by the same time without the new structure.

The study did not identify any rare or endangered species of vegetation in the area. And the company promises all mature vegetation and animal life will be respected during construction.

As for the water, the bridge company says the new bridge will have minimal impact on surface water quality and quantity; and that there are no adverse impacts on fish and fish habitat from construction or operation.

In a previous article, TodaysTrucking.com reported that Michigan Division of the Federal Highway Administration was critical of the Ambassador’s commissioned study, describing it as a “largely qualitative document” that “does not perform a rigorous quantitative analysis of several topical areas.”

The bridge company denies that is the case, and in the past has accused some government agencies, including FHWA, of being partisan to the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) — a group of Canadian and U.S. officials trying to establish a separate crossing downriver.

The company is holding open house sessions to explain its findings today.

“We are holding the open house sessions because we felt it was important to share these very positive findings from our environmental studies with the community,” said Dan Stamper, president of the Ambassador Bridge.