Dear Governor Whitmer and Minister Garneau,

I am writing you both today concerning a very troubling development that I thought had been addressed years ago. It has come to my attention that the Detroit International Bridge Company (DIBC) has once again initiated a lobbying effort in Lansing to reverse a decision made by the previous administration prohibiting hazardous materials from traveling across the Ambassador Bridge. Governor Snyder’s decision was to uphold the status quo rather than change operations and restrictions that had been in place since the establishment of the Ambassador bridge. This must be maintained.

As you are aware the Ambassador Bridge has been subject to hazardous materials restrictions since it began operations. Trucks transporting hazardous materials have always used the Blue Water Bridge and Detroit Windsor Truck Ferry. These international crossings in Michigan and Ontario are far less-traveled, far newer, separate cargo and passenger traffic, and have transparent fire suppression and spill containment plans, which the Ambassador Bridge does not. The new Gordie Howe International Bridge will open soon and will have state of the art protections for allowing the transport of hazardous materials. Additionally, while other international crossings that allow hazardous materials transport are operated by, open to, and regularly inspected by government officials, DIBC continues to have less accountability. This situation resulted in special Canadian Federal legislation to balance the public interest and safety through the International Bridge and Tunnel Act.