Officials with the Ambassador Bridge are denying the 86-year-old crossing is crumbling despite fallen concrete on city streets.
Instead, bridge Vice Chairman Matt Moroun says the City of Windsor is delaying the plans for a twin span, which also include repairing the current bridge.
“I understand that maybe there’s some people, for political reasons, that would like to see us manage the decay forever, but that’s not prudent and it doesn’t fulfill our obligation… that the bridge needs major rebuild,” says Moroun.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says Maroun's comments are "completely, factually incorrect."
"We do not control the process under which the Ambassador Bridge has made application to build their new span," says Dilkens. "That process, which they are very well aware of, is under the International Bridges and Tunnels Act and a process for which they have actually made application already through the federal government."
The City of Windsor has shut down Donnelly, Peter and Wyandotte St. W between Huron Church Rd. and Indian Rd. as a result of debris found underneath the bridge.
Late Thursday afternoon, Dilkens held a news conference with large pieces of the debris on the table in front of him.
He says on September 30 a resident complained of falling debris. City staff monitored the situation and found large concrete chunks on October 9 within arms reach of the sidewalk near Wyandotte St. W.
Transport Canada has been called in and will be assessing the Ambassador Bridge. The federal agency can issue orders to repair the crossing, but the city cannot.
Dilkens says following the Transport Canada inspection, the city is hopeful the bridge company will follow through with the needed repairs.
"At the end of the day, we don't have the responsibility to repair the Ambassador Bridge (and) we can't force the Ambassador Bridge to make repairs," says Dilkens. "All we can control are our roadways and our sidewalks, and make sure that they're not open to pedestrians and motorists if there is a safety issue."
- With files from Kirk Dickinson.
Ambassador Bridge vice chairman Matt Moroun, left, leaves a press conference about the the physical state of the crossing, October 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)