Windsor Mayor Voices Decades of Frustration Over Ambassador Bridge Negotiations
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has publicly expressed profound frustration regarding the city's ongoing negotiations with the Ambassador Bridge company, describing the process as moving "one step forward and two steps back." The decades-long battle centers on boarded-up homes in Windsor's west end and other persistent points of friction between the municipality and the bridge owners.
Protecting the West End Remains a Priority
During a city hall news conference on Wednesday, Mayor Dilkens emphasized the city's unwavering commitment to finding a resolution. "We don't want to fight. We actually want to find a resolution that takes care of all sorts of issues and allows us to reactivate the homes that have been boarded up or need to be torn down and rebuilt," he stated.
The mayor further declared, "That's what we're fighting for is to continue to protect the west end. We will never give in. We are never going to just throw in the towel and acquiesce." He affirmed the city's determination to secure a satisfactory outcome, vowing to hold out until a great solution is achieved.
A Shift from Previous Optimism
These remarks represent a significant departure from the mayor's statements in December 2024, when he told the Windsor Star that the "spirit of co-operation is extremely positive" and expressed optimism for a near-future resolution. The current tone reflects a breakdown in negotiations, with Dilkens noting that agreements consistently fall apart, "and it almost never falls apart on the city's side."
The Ambassador Bridge company has not publicly commented on the recent developments. A representative did not respond to the Star's request for comment ahead of the print deadline on Thursday.
Historical Context and Property Issues
The Canadian Transit Company, the bridge company's Canadian arm, owns numerous properties in west Windsor, including many houses that have been boarded up for decades. Windsor city council has prohibited the company from demolishing most of these buildings, as they are located within the Sandwich Heritage Conservation District.
Key historical points include:
- In 2017, the company received conditional approval from the Government of Canada to build a new six-lane cable-stayed bridge west of the existing Ambassador Bridge.
- The city subsequently granted demolition permits for houses within the federal permit's footprint.
- The permit for the replacement span expired in late 2022 when the bridge owners failed to meet certain conditions.
Despite the expired permit, the company still intends to relocate its secondary customs inspection plaza for trucks—a condition of the proposed second span. The new plaza would be situated near the foot of the bridge, rather than its current location two kilometres away off Malden Road.
The ongoing impasse highlights the complex and protracted nature of municipal negotiations with major infrastructure owners, with Windsor's west end community caught in the middle of this decades-long dispute.
