Michigan drills at proposed new bridge landing

DETROIT — Michigan officials have begun testing the stability of the ground where a new international crossing between Detroit and Windsor is expected to be built.

According to Associate Press, the Michigan Department of Transportation is drilling 14 holes up to 500 metres deep to examine the bedrock on the U.S. side of the Detroit River, near Zub Island.

The drilling work is expected to be completed by June.

The Detroit River International Crossing study — a binational team of government officials and stakeholders from Canada and the U.S. — agreed in 2004 that a new crossing should be built to supplement the busy, privately owned Ambassador Bridge.

Environmental studies are scheduled for completion in 2007, and approvals are expected to follow in 2008.

In November, Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon indicated there could be a large role for the private sector in the financing and construction of the new bridge.

“The Government of Canada for its part intends to explore the opportunity to partner with the private sector to design, build, finance, and operate the new crossing,” he said.

— with files from Associate Press