Some of Windsor-Essex's members of Parliament have praised the community-minded efforts of the new bridge project.
Windsor West MP Brian Masse and Windsor-Tecumseh MP Cheryl Hardcastle were among the federal, provincial and local dignitaries at the official kickoff of construction for the Gordie Howe International Bridge Friday. The project was officially begun by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Francois-Philippe Champagne and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.
Reporters asked Trudeau about the ongoing efforts by the Ambassador Bridge Company to build a new span next to the current one, which was built in 1929. While the prime minister did not directly address the issue, Masse, a staunch critic of the bridge company's plans in Olde Sandwich Towne, did by saying that the Gordie Howe Bridge project is about making the neighbourhoods a part of the package, not tearing them down.
"The Ambassador Bridge got a specific piece of legislation that really isn't supported by the community, and will require another process," said Masse.
In a Facebook Live broadcast last week, Masse criticized the Ambassador Bridge Company for the glut of abandoned homes that they own near the bridge, with the intention of them being demolished. Masse believed that would put a strain on the affordable housing stock in west Windsor. He said the difference between the two projects is night and day.
"We're going to continue to press for Sandwich Towne to be respected because all you have to do is drive by there to see the boarded-up homes, the closed schools and the impact from the Ambassador Bridge on the community, whereas this project is about building the community," said Masse.
Hardcastle praised Masse's work on the issue, saying that the Gordie Howe Bridge project persevered through cooperation from all parties involved.
"It is a testament to the fact that when you have a proven need for an infrastructure project, and you have somebody who works as diligently as this... you can surmount all of those odds," said Hardcastle.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and Bridging North America, the primary company on the design and construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge, are investing millions of dollars in beautification and development around the future Canadian point of entry for the bridge, set to open to traffic in 2024.
