AP
Detroit -- As the company that owns the Ambassador Bridge announced a deck replacement Friday afternoon, it remained committed to building a second span after it failed to receive an essential permit this week.
"A request for bids for the deck replacement will go out within the next two weeks," said Detroit International Bridge Company president Dan Stamper.
"We expect construction to begin in May and take two years to complete because we will minimize the impact on traffic using this most vital international crossing."
The announcement of the replacement project on the 80-year-old span that connects Detroit and Windsor came late Friday afternoon.
The DIBC said there should be "little or no disruption to traffic" with the majority of the work being done one lane at a time during off-peak hours.
Stamper also said the DIBC is still fully committed to building its proposed Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project, a privately funded six-lane replacement.
According to Stamper, the DIBC's commitment to the new span stands despite the U.S. Coast Guard's return of permit paperwork earlier this week that could indefinitely delay the start of the bridge. The Coast Guard said it returned the permit due to unresolved land acquisition issues between the DIBC and the city of Detroit.
The Ambassador Bridge remains the No. 1 international crossing in North America, carrying more than 25 percent of the trade between the U.S. and Canada.
According to the DIBC, the bridge carried 4.2 million cars and 2.3 million trucks in 2009, down from 8.9 million cars and 3.4 million trucks in 1999.
"A request for bids for the deck replacement will go out within the next two weeks," said Detroit International Bridge Company president Dan Stamper.
"We expect construction to begin in May and take two years to complete because we will minimize the impact on traffic using this most vital international crossing."
The announcement of the replacement project on the 80-year-old span that connects Detroit and Windsor came late Friday afternoon.
The DIBC said there should be "little or no disruption to traffic" with the majority of the work being done one lane at a time during off-peak hours.
Stamper also said the DIBC is still fully committed to building its proposed Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project, a privately funded six-lane replacement.
According to Stamper, the DIBC's commitment to the new span stands despite the U.S. Coast Guard's return of permit paperwork earlier this week that could indefinitely delay the start of the bridge. The Coast Guard said it returned the permit due to unresolved land acquisition issues between the DIBC and the city of Detroit.
The Ambassador Bridge remains the No. 1 international crossing in North America, carrying more than 25 percent of the trade between the U.S. and Canada.
According to the DIBC, the bridge carried 4.2 million cars and 2.3 million trucks in 2009, down from 8.9 million cars and 3.4 million trucks in 1999.
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