FIRM FLOATS PLAN FOR BACKUP BRIDGE

The Detroit News
Published: Wednesday, July 29, 2010

The Ambassador Bridge Co. announced plans Wednesday to build a floating bridge to replace the current span in case of terrorist attack or natural disaster.

Dan Stamper, president of the Detroit International Bridge Co., which owns and operates the 80-year-old span, made the announcement of the "Bridge-on-Demand" project at the Northern Border Security Conference in Dearborn.Stamper said the floating bridge would be based on concepts employed by the U.S. military.

The Bridge-on-Demand system is the ultimate solution to providing redundancy in the face of a crisis," Stamper said.

"Its mobility will allow for secure land-based storage, where the Bridge-on-Demand system can be called upon for deployment across the Detroit River, or anywhere else across the nation in very short order."

Although still in the design stage, the bridge would be able to handle four lanes of traffic and would open in the middle to allow for shipping traffic.

"This is the first I've heard of the plan," said Jim Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers Association.

"I've never run into anything like this professionally, although I'm aware that this technology has been used by the U.S. Army.

"It's important that shipping remain open, but the Detroit River is wide, deep and fast; the speed of the river is one of the biggest obstacles to what they intend to do."

The bridge company also would need permission from the U.S. Coast Guard, Weakley said.

Stamper said the redundancy of the bridge would lessen the Ambassador Bridge as a target for terrorists while also allowing for an economic recovery "in days, not years."

The bridge company has been in a prolonged and pitched battle with the U.S. and Canadian governments, as well as the Michigan Department of Transportation, over plans to build a second span across the river in an area about two miles down stream from the Ambassador Bridge.

Bill Shreck — director of communications for MDOT, was unimpressed by plans — for a floating bridge.

"If this is their answer to the redundancy question, then they don't understand the question," Shreck said.

"Given the importance of the border crossing, a temporary floating bridge isn't what this area needs to ensure that commerce continues through the busiest international crossing in North America."

The bridge company said the design contract has been awarded to American Consulting Professionals of Michigan, with its office in Livonia.

tgreenwood@detnews.com (313) 222-2023