WINDSOR, ON, Jan. 27, 2015 /CNW/ -The Governments of Canada and Ontario today announced the completion of improvements to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Canadian Plaza. This project was the final construction project remaining in the Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving (LGWEM) strategy announced in 2004.
The improvements to the Canadian plaza of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel were undertaken to accommodate current and future traffic volumes and promote the use of the NEXUS program while removing the tunnel queues from city streets.
Upgrades include new vehicle access lanes, new buildings for the Canada Border Services Agency and tunnel maintenance, new inspection booths for truck and passenger vehicle processing, and a reconfiguration of the duty-free parking area, municipal parking lots and existing intersections.
Quick Facts
- Construction of the improvements to the Canadian plaza of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel began in September 2012, following an environmental study and detail design.
- Coco Paving Inc. of Windsor, Ontario, completed the $16.6 million construction contract.
- This $35-million project is jointly funded by the Governments of Canada and Ontario under the Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving (LGWEM) strategy, a $300-million commitment for several transportation infrastructure projects to improve efficiency and reduce congestion in Windsor and Essex County. Funding for this strategy comes from the Canada-Ontario Border Infrastructure Fund.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada continues its unprecedented investment in border infrastructure. The improvements to the Canadian plaza of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel will improve efficiency at this critical border crossing and contribute to the economic well-being of Windsor, the region and the province."
Jeff Watson
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Essex
"The Province of Ontario is pleased to have worked with our federal and municipal partners to complete these projects in Windsor and Essex County. Since the strategy began in 2004, more than 1,000 jobs were created to complete 10 infrastructure projects improving the safety and efficiency of border bound traffic."
Kathryn McGarry
Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Transportation and Member of Provincial Parliament for Cambridge
"As a gateway to and from Canada and the busiest border city in the country, Windsor plays a key role in the economics and trade of our nation. Our partners at the federal and provincial levels have recognized this, and I want to thank them for investing significant dollars and resources to ensure our new tunnel plaza is efficient, secure and attractive for all who use it."
Drew Dilkens
Mayor of Windsor
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LET'S GET WINDSOR-ESSEX MOVING STRATEGY
Upgrades to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Canadian Plaza were jointly funded by the Governments of Canada and Ontario under the Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving (LGWEM) strategy, a $300-million commitment by the two governments to improve efficiency and reduce congestion on the Ontario approaches to the Windsor-Detroit border crossings. Funding for this strategy came from the Canada-Ontario Border Infrastructure Fund.
The goal of the LGWEM strategy was to address the short- to medium-term concerns at existing border crossings in Windsor and Essex County prior to the completion of a new publicly-owned bridge between Windsor and Detroit and the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway. The projects under this strategy are improving efficiency and reducing congestion in the local road network.
Projects announced under the LGWEM strategy in 2004 include:
- a pedestrian overpass over Huron Church Road south of Tecumseh Road;
- intersection improvements on Highway 3 at Walker Road and Outer Drive;
- intersection improvements to Huron Church Road at Industrial Drive;
- improvements to County Road 19 north of County Road 22 to the VIA Rail Line;
- Intelligent Transportation Systems projects including cameras, changeable message signs, and portable message systems;
- an Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Design Study to identify improvements to Essex County Road 19;
- road-rail grade separations on Walker Road and Howard Avenue at the CPR tracks;
- improvements to the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry facilities;
- improvements to County Road 22;
- improvements to Highway 401; and
- improvements to the Canadian plaza of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel.
Additional projects announced under the LGWEM strategy in 2010 include:
- planning and environmental study of improvements to Lauzon Parkway from Essex County Road 42 to Highway 3; and
- detail design and construction of upgrades to Walker Road between Division Road and E.C. Row Expressway.
SOURCE Transport Canada
Ashley Kelahear, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, 613-991-0700; Patrick Searle, Minister's Office, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Toronto, 416-327-1815; Mark Butler, Communications, Transport Canada, Windsor, 519- 257-7739; Heather Grondin, Windsor Border Initiatives Implementation Group, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Windsor, 519-973-7359
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