Group envisions bridge as park
Don’t tear down Ambassador span, repurpose it, preservationists say
A Windsor group devoted to heritage preservation wants the existing Ambassador Bridge preserved — should a new private span be erected — and transformed into a public park linking two countries.
“What a lovely park it could be, what a lovely green space it could be — it would be gorgeous,” said Tammy Dewhirst, president of the Windsor-Essex branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario.
Earlier this month, the owners of the Ambassador Bridge announced Ottawa had approved their application for a new six-lane span between Windsor and Detroit, to be built to the immediate west of the current bridge. Contained in a long list of conditions, however, is a requirement by Canada that the existing 87-year-old bridge be torn down.
“That would be a great loss — it’s definitely part of the Windsor landscape,” said Dewhirst, adding the iconic structure boasts heritage significance on both sides of the international border.
Dewhirst’s group, which has regularly waged public campaigns to preserve local historic structures threatened by bulldozers and developers, believes it has a far better and more visionary idea — turn the Ambassador Bridge into an international public park.
Following the pattern of New York City’s High Line — a 1.5-mile elevated train platform converted into a popular linear greenway park — the Ambassador Bridge would boast pedestrian walkways and bike paths and be landscaped with native plants.
There would be public art installations, viewing platforms, outdoor patios, historical and nature interpretive centres and venues for concerts and special events.
“I think it’s reaching for the moon, but why not?” said Mary Ann Cuderman, a Sandwich Street bakeshop owner and bridge watchdog.
The owner of an Olde Sandwich building built in 1808, Cuderman greeted Ottawa’s approval to allow the new bridge and customs plaza — the subject of years of legal battles that reached the Supreme Court of Canada — as “devastating news.”
But creating an international attraction by preserving the Ambassador Bridge for non-motorized use would be “a concept worth looking into — it’s intriguing,” said Cuderman.
The owners of the bridge, who have waged a sometimes acrimonious battle against people such as Cuderman and the City of Windsor, appear open to the idea.
“We’re not opposed,” said Stan Korosec, director of Canadian government relations for the Detroit International Bridge Co. If the original span can’t be used for vehicles, “what’s the harm in exploring other options?” he told the Star.
Despite the Trudeau Liberals’ conditional approval, a big hurdle remains: Canada says the old bridge must come down, but the U.S. insists it remain standing.
“The No. 1 thing we have got to do is get this resolved as to what we’re supposed to do — we can’t tear down half the bridge,” said Korosec.
While both express interest in the ACO’s proposal, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and MP Brian Masse (NDP—Windsor West) question the timing.
Masse said the federal cabinet’s order-in-council requiring demolition is now the law. “Any alternative use is nullified by the order-in-council,” he said, adding the Liberals made their decision without any prior opportunity for the affected community to provide input on alternatives.
“It may be too late — your good ideas have to be at the right time,” said Dilkens. He said the two federal governments would have to be convinced and that he’d want to see more details before committing the City of Windsor’s support.
Dewhirst said her group’s proposal is at the very early stage and that public input will be sought and community leaders on both sides of the border engaged. She said a competition with local architecture students is already being planned to show what the possibilities might be, perhaps even showing how its design could be linked in with the proposed new private bridge.
“It would be quite amazing … (and) very much welcomed by the biking and walking and park folks on the Detroit side,” said Todd Scott, executive director of the Detroit Greenways Coalition.
In just a decade, the city of Detroit has gone from 13 miles of city trails and pathways to 243 miles, said Scott, whose non-profit organization is developing a citywide network of trails for biking and walking. Such “eye-popping numbers,” he said, are being used to help lure new investment such as Amazon’s proposed US$5 billion new headquarters.
Dewhirst conceded the international border “complicates” things and that the implementation could be pricey, but, she added, it would be far less costly than having to remove the bridge. Part of the ACO proposal would see an endowment fund created with monies the Ambassador Bridge company would save by not having to pay for demolition. There might even be a “small toll” for visitors to cover the costs of ongoing maintenance, she said.
Korosec said tearing down the Ambassador Bridge would cost “tens of millions of dollars.”
Would the owners of the Ambassador Bridge be willing to pay for the ACO proposal?
“I don’t know — it’s way, way too early,” said Korosec.
Dilkens said it’s “an interesting concept,” and that it would become a lot more interesting if it came with a guarantee that the existing span would never be used for motor vehicles. The bridge company has sought to keep the existing span standing, to be opened for special events and for emergency vehicle use.
“No traffic whatsoever, they’ve done enough to us,” said Cuderman. “The bottom line is, it can’t be used for the profit of the bridge company.”
Laws can be changed, said Masse. “I’d be open to any alternative purpose — if people are excited about it, I’m in favour.”
Said Dewhirst: “It would be devastating to lose that bridge.”