NEW BRIDGE PROVISIONS
Archeological dig begins
While the Walpole Island First Nation still claims it has rights to the riverfront property needed for a new Ambassador Bridge span, a bridge official Thursday didn’t see that as a significant hurdle to starting construction in Windsor in the coming weeks. About 68 acres — including shoreline on the Canadian side of the Detroit River, existing pillars of the Ambassador Bridge and a triangle shape in the area of Huron Church Road stretching back toward Wyandotte Street — is a parcel that is one of many across Canada which remain in dispute with the federal government, said Dean Jacobs, consultation manager for Walpole Island First Nations.
“The 68 acres have not been covered by treaty with any of our ancestors,” he said.
Under case law, the original title for the property still belongs to Walpole Island First Nations, Jacobs said.
He concedes the bridge company holds ownership of the former Villa Maria residence site — and much of the rest of the surrounding lands in question. But not historical rights.
“We know (final) policy won’t affect individual landowners,” Jacobs said. “Only Crown lands are to be returned to reserve status. The remainder of the claim would be negotiated compensation of dollars or other benefits.
“So, when we are successful, we will not kick out the Ambassador Bridge.” But resolving the Walpole Island property ownership issue and completing an Indigenous historical dig are among more than a dozen conditions which must be fulfilled under the Canadian government’s permit granted to the bridge company for the new span.
As a show of good faith with Walpole Island authorities, the bridge company, at a cost of up to $1 million, launched a massive historical dig on Thursday — primarily on the former Villa Maria property — that is likely to produce hundreds of Indigenous artifacts dating back up to 10,000 years.
Last year, a similar dig connected with a new Sandwich Street roundabout produced similar historical artifacts. “These artifacts will support what we have been saying — that our ancestors have been here for thousands of years,” Jacobs said. “This will support that (the site) was significant to Walpole Island. We call it the big house on the river and traditionally it has been our special place now called the Detroit River.
“This was a traditional hunting and gathering spot, an important corridor for travelling. We will be uncovering our history. Then bring it forward to celebrate in the future.” Resolution of the property issue is primarily in the hands of the federal government, said Stan Korosec, who oversees operations for the bridge company on the Canadian side.
“It is part of a larger discussion they are having with the government with many properties in the area,” he said.
“Things are working out with us right now (with Walpole Island) with the (dig) we started today and partnership we have announced. They have raised no issues with us about (property ownership).”
Of greater concern to bridge officials is the unresolved issue of what happens with the existing 89-year-old Ambassador Bridge once the new span is completed. The Canadian government has demanded it be torn down as a requirement under its conditional approval for the planned new six-lane cable-stayed bridge. But documents on the U.S. side show it must be preserved as a heritage site.
“We are trying to get both governments to talk to each other,” Korosec said. “We will abide by whatever decision they jointly make. But don’t let that stop us from putting people to work.” He also indicated a meeting was held Thursday with City of Windsor officials to advance planning for its new Canada Customs truck inspection plaza which is to be constructed at the foot of the planned new span. Korosec anticipates work on the new plaza will start within weeks and be the first significant construction for the new twin span people will see in Windsor. Site preparation and utility relocation for the new bridge has already been launched in Detroit with those activities clearly visible Thursday from this side of the river.
How fast the new bridge span will start to go up is dependent on how long it takes to complete the historical dig and the Canadian government signing off on all required federal approvals, Korosec said.
“There is a lot happening behind the scenes so when these issues are cleared, we will be able to get shovels in the ground and put people to work,” he said.
This was a traditional hunting and gathering spot, an important corridor for travelling.